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Thomas M. Greiner, Ph.D. wrote:
>
> This note is in response to Mark Swanepoel's submission about the use of
> "Race" in biomechanical studies. First, I'd like to say that he has made
> many valid points, but in so doing has also missed a few.
>
> True, the word "race" has gotten so garbled with it's cultural overtones
> that is difficult to use in a way that is unlikely to be misinterpreted.
> True, there is no such thing as a "pure" racial group -- each group
> blends with its neighbors so that it is nearly impossible to drawn
> non-arbitrary boundaries between them. Still, that does not mean that
> the concept of race, geographic morphotypes, or whatever term you want
> to use, has no value in biology.
>
> Take an example without the cultural overtones. Blue -- a color in the
> visible light spectrum. It has characteristics that can be measured,
> certain physical associations, and conjures up the meaning of a color
> that we all immediately understand. Yet, the physicist would have
> trouble telling you where green ends and blue begins on the light
> spectrum. Does this mean that the word "blue" and the concept of colors
> has no meaning or value? I don't think so.
>
> The essential task of a biologist is to determine what differences
> within and between populations are meaningful and in what context they
> have meaning,. I suspect that within most biomechanical applications the
> concept of "race" has no value. However, that is a suspicion based as
> much upon my understanding of human biology as upon my own particular
> cultural bias.
>
> So, does the concept of race have any value in biomechanics? The
> question has never really been addressed in biomechanics. The jury is
> still out.
>
> --
> Thomas M. Greiner, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Anatomy
> New York Chiropractic College
> Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0800 USA
>
> Phone Office: (315) 568-3183
> Phone Lab: (315) 568-3239
> Fax: (315) 568-3017
> EMail: tgreiner@nycc.edu
>
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There are known differences in limb flexibility between Indians
(Indian Indians not the North American ones) and Europeans. The
Indians are more hypermobile.
Buddha always shown in the lotus position is an example.
--
************************************************** ********
Email -
Geoffrey.Walsh@ed.ac.uk
http://www.ed.ac.uk/~gwalsh
Phone (0)131.664.3046
64, Liberton Drive,
Edinburgh
EH16 6NW
U.K.
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>
> This note is in response to Mark Swanepoel's submission about the use of
> "Race" in biomechanical studies. First, I'd like to say that he has made
> many valid points, but in so doing has also missed a few.
>
> True, the word "race" has gotten so garbled with it's cultural overtones
> that is difficult to use in a way that is unlikely to be misinterpreted.
> True, there is no such thing as a "pure" racial group -- each group
> blends with its neighbors so that it is nearly impossible to drawn
> non-arbitrary boundaries between them. Still, that does not mean that
> the concept of race, geographic morphotypes, or whatever term you want
> to use, has no value in biology.
>
> Take an example without the cultural overtones. Blue -- a color in the
> visible light spectrum. It has characteristics that can be measured,
> certain physical associations, and conjures up the meaning of a color
> that we all immediately understand. Yet, the physicist would have
> trouble telling you where green ends and blue begins on the light
> spectrum. Does this mean that the word "blue" and the concept of colors
> has no meaning or value? I don't think so.
>
> The essential task of a biologist is to determine what differences
> within and between populations are meaningful and in what context they
> have meaning,. I suspect that within most biomechanical applications the
> concept of "race" has no value. However, that is a suspicion based as
> much upon my understanding of human biology as upon my own particular
> cultural bias.
>
> So, does the concept of race have any value in biomechanics? The
> question has never really been addressed in biomechanics. The jury is
> still out.
>
> --
> Thomas M. Greiner, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Anatomy
> New York Chiropractic College
> Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0800 USA
>
> Phone Office: (315) 568-3183
> Phone Lab: (315) 568-3239
> Fax: (315) 568-3017
> EMail: tgreiner@nycc.edu
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe send UNSUBSCRIBE BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
> For information and archives: http://www.bme.ccf.org/isb/biomch-l
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
There are known differences in limb flexibility between Indians
(Indian Indians not the North American ones) and Europeans. The
Indians are more hypermobile.
Buddha always shown in the lotus position is an example.
--
************************************************** ********
Email -
Geoffrey.Walsh@ed.ac.uk
http://www.ed.ac.uk/~gwalsh
Phone (0)131.664.3046
64, Liberton Drive,
Edinburgh
EH16 6NW
U.K.
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To unsubscribe send UNSUBSCRIBE BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
For information and archives: http://www.bme.ccf.org/isb/biomch-l
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