Gould-Paley Debate

The Gould-Paley Debate centered on the scientific validity of claims that human races are biologically distinct with inherent differences. Stephen Jay Gould argued that such ideas were rooted in racist pseudoscience and misrepresented biological diversity, emphasizing that race is a social construct with no clear genetic boundaries. In contrast, Michael Paley defended the view that racial categories have some biological basis, often citing studies of genetics and morphology. The debate highlights tensions between viewing race as a meaningful biological concept versus understanding it as a social and cultural construct, emphasizing the importance of scientific accuracy and avoiding racial stereotypes.