In last week’s Talks of the town I flagged up a lecture by James Watson at the Dana Centre, saying that ‘You can expect controversy’. Little did I know how much.
Watson is making headlines this morning after the Science Museum cancelled the event, claiming his views on black people go ‘beyond the point of acceptable debate’.
The move follows comments from the geneticist made in the Sunday Times.
He says that he is “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”, and I know that this “hot potato” is going to be difficult to address. His hope is that everyone is equal, but he counters that “people who have to deal with black employees find this not true”.
It’s such a shame that one of the greatest living scientists is effectively demolishing his reputation by airing such prejudices.
These grown-ups seem to be behaving very badly.
See also the discussion on Henry’s blog.
I attended a James Watson event when he was in Boston a couple of weeks ago promoting his book. He seems to pride himself on being controversial, like he almost goes out of his way to be what he called “politically incorrect.” I hope he’s learning that sometimes, it can be taken too far.
I’ve read his book, Avoid Boring People, and it’s fascinating as a study in delusional arrogance.
It’s nothing new. He’s always been unsufferable. It’s finally catching up with him.
I’ve a lot of sympathy with the Science Museum – on the one hand, the potential for angry audience members and other protesters isn’t what I, as an event organiser, would look forward to on a Friday night. And there’s certainly an issue of organisations being seen to “support” or “give a platform” to his views.
But I can’t help but agree with Anjana Ahuja in the Times that it would have been better to have gone ahead.
I’m glad I wasn’t the one at the Science Museum trying to choose between the rock and the hard place, though.
It is also a little unfair that the Science Museum is now being singled out for wimping out when, according to TIME others did too, after the Science Museum did.
Seen elsewhere:
James Watson is becoming the Prince Philip of science.
Ironically, the Dana Centre, where Watson was due to talk, just ran an event on scientific racism .
The Guardian answers something that niggled me – why the Sunday Times didn’t make more of the story:
Anjana again, in the Times has a piece that twangs at my empathy: