CANCELLED: A Metaphysical Mapping Problem for Race Theorists and Human Popul. Geneticists

NOTE! This seminar is cancelled.

The Research Seminar Series in Philosophy invites you to a seminar with Quayshawn Spencer, University of Pennsylvania, "A Metaphysical Mapping Problem for Race Theorists and Human Population Geneticists".

Abstract (på engelska): In this talk, I identify and clarify a metaphysical mapping phenomenon that’s almost twenty years old. The phenomenon is that the populations at a fivefold subdivision of humans into biological populations—the so-called human continental populations—correspond one-to-one with the five official races of the Office of Management and Budget in the US government. This phenomenon has raised the interesting philosophical question of what exactly is the metaphysical relation being exemplified by this particular mapping. Metaphysicians of race have offered multiple different theories here. Most importantly, Levin’s view is that it’s co-exemplification of a certain kind of biological population, Ásta has argued that it’s a function of tracking, Hardimon has argued that it’s co-exemplification of minimalist race, and Taylor’s view is that the relation is (at best) co-extension. However, in this paper, I argue that the metaphysical relation that’s exemplified by this mapping is identity. After presenting and defending the identity thesis, I explore interesting implications of the view for metaphysicians of race and NIH-funded medical scientists.

Please note that this seminar is held at different time than usual.

All interested are welcome to participate in this seminar.

This seminar is held online in Zoom. Link for participation will be distributed by email to the seminar distribution list. If you wish to participate but are not on this list you can get the link by contacting Pär Sundström, see below. 

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