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Azathoth123 comments on "NRx" vs. "Prog" Assumptions: Locating the Sources of Disagreement Between Neoreactionaries and Progressives (Part 1) - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: Matthew_Opitz 04 September 2014 04:58PM

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Comment author: Azathoth123 09 September 2014 12:24:19AM 7 points [-]

Do we have evidence that whites and non-whites have different average levels of certain neurotransmitters? Are there actual gross physiological differences in white and non-write brains? If so, then there is more than just social-construction at work. If not, then social-construction is all there is.

Well we certainly have evidence that they behave differently. I don't know about neurotransmitters (I'm guessing the experiment hasn't been performed, imagine trying to get approval for it), also I don't see why the exact details of the causal mechanism matter here.

Comment author: skeptical_lurker 11 November 2014 12:25:35AM 1 point [-]

The experiments have been performed. For instance, this dopamine receptor has a single nucleotide polymorphism that emerged in the middle east 40000 years ago (and therefore has very different prevalence across ethnic groups) and causes ADHD. There is a just-so evolutionary argument that states that as humanity spread out from Africa, novelty-seeking becomes advantageous as people adapt to new environments. This novelty-seeking is then pathologised as ADHD in the modern world.

Comment author: [deleted] 22 September 2014 11:00:03AM 0 points [-]

I don't see why the exact details of the causal mechanism matter here.

Because they could allow us to predict which kinds of interventions would have which effects.