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| Dr. Alexis Carrel (Sept. 16, 1935) |
What does the chasm between Carrel’s intellectual prowess and his racist attitudes suggest about the relationship between education and virtue? Would you describe Carrel’s racism as an intellectual (a failure to understand the nature of racial difference?) or moral in nature (a hatred of different cultures?) or something different?
Can education cure racist attitudes or is something else needed?
Click here to hear author David Friedman talk about his 2007 book The Immortalists: Charles Lindbergh, Dr. Alexis Carrel, and Their Daring Quest to Live Forever, which discusses, as the New York Times puts it, how "scientific brilliance and moral idiocy can thrive side by side" (August 28, 2007).
I believe racism and prejudice are ignorant traits taught to children by their elders. I would think that a man of science would clearly see that blacks, whites, and every other human race are all made up of the same "stuff". The only reason the black community didn't succeed as much as the white is because they were not given the chance.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Hicks
Carrel obviously was not willing to change his views on other cultures. Whether or not he educated himself on the differences in culture is not the root of the problem. Education can only build a bridge to curing racist attitudes. In order for racism to slow and stop, people must be willing to first educate themselves and then change their views and beliefs if there is sufficient evidence to do so.
ReplyDeleteEmily Davis
If you are unwilling to open your mind, it doesn't matter how educated you are. A great example is when the scientists were given evidence Hela had contaminated other cultures, yet they refused to believe it because of the time and effort spent. I'm sure having a racist, unpopular opinion required quite a lot of defending over the years. Even if Carrel was educated enough to look and see with his own eyes we are no different, that's far from having the strength to accept an idea so different from his doctrine.
ReplyDeleteCarrel believed that only wealthy, educated, white people were fit to live. That lofty attitude stems from the ignorance or denial of the fact that he only had education because he was provided an education; he was born white; and he was fortunate enough to be wealthy. In addition, his racist attitude had to be attributive to what he was taught at some point in the course of his life. He was ignorant of racial differences leading to a hatred of different cultures. The only thing that can cure racist attitudes is a learned acceptance of differences between races.
ReplyDeleteAllon Gillispie
I like the last question. I do think education would help racism. If all people were taught about each other and the cultural similarities between us all then, maybe, all races could find our common ground before festering a hatred that has no ground to stand on anyway. But I also think that beyond education, fixing racism starts with choosing to love others, even with their differences, and accepting each others falts. If all races would choose this and stray from the teaching and demonstration of this racism and predjuice, then it would go away and die off with those who taught it to us.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with a moral problem. Just because you are an "Intellectual" does not mean you are right all the time. Or in some cases even part of the time. And it most certainly doesn't make you a good or even decent person. While he may have been a wonderful surgeon he was a racist and supporter of Hitlers idea that all "sub-human" races should be exterminated to make room for those worthy of living, such as the Aryans. I don't know why he had the opinions he had or what caused him to view other people in such a light but whatever it was it must have had a great effect on him to make his views so extreme for so long. I believe if racist attitudes are to be honestly and completely healed or changed it will take a great deal more than simply education. Personally I believe faith in Christ is the only thing that is capable of actually changing people with racist views into more tolerant people. Education in schools is given by other people giving their knowledge to you. And who is to say they are right? No. I do not believe education will heal such views.
ReplyDeleteTell Jordan
I absolutely do not think education can help cure racism. I believe a lot of it has to do with how people are raised. I personally feel very strongly about this issue. I consider someone who is racist to be extremely ignorant and close minded. That limits an individuals ability to be completely successful in the journey of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Jackson
This questions is for everyone:
ReplyDeleteKelsea writes: "If you are unwilling to open your mind, it doesn't matter how educated you are." What is the difference between being "open-minded" and be willing to learn? Haven't all educated people demonstrated a "willingness to learn" at some point? Is it possible to become educated without ever actually "opening your mind"?
Tell writes, "I believe faith in Christ is the only thing that is capable of actually changing people with racist views into more tolerant people."
ReplyDeleteHow do we explain the phenomenon of Christian racists? What about Christians who don't think "tolerance" is what being Christian is all about?