Review of William H. Tucker, The Funding of Scientific Racism: Wickliffe Draper and the Pioneer Fund and Frank Miele Intelligence, Race, and Genetics: Conversations with Arthur Jensen

Abstract

The historical development of scientific thought frequently intersects with broader social, economic, and political structures. Early twentieth-century physics provided conceptual frameworks for rethinking tangible commodities and social behavior through metaphors of atomic masses and non-Euclidean geometry. Simultaneously, the institutionalization of scientific racism was facilitated by private philanthropic entities that underwrote research into biological racial hierarchies to support segregationist agendas. While proponents of these theories often characterize their work as politically neutral psychometric inquiry, historical analysis reveals deep-seated networks linking genetic determinism to specific ideological movements. Furthermore, the closure of scientific controversies does not necessarily result in the total cessation of discredited research; instead, certain fields persist in a marginalized state. This persistence necessitates a sociological approach that acknowledges the asymmetrical status of failed theories while examining how the resolution of public disputes reshapes the subsequent organization of scientific practice. These distinct case studies—ranging from the cultural impact of relativity to the enduring legacies of eugenics and cold fusion—illustrate the complex interplay between empirical claims and the sociopolitical contexts in which they are produced and sustained. – AI-generated abstract.