The Mismeasure of Man

"The Mismeasure of Man," written by Stephen Jay Gould, critiques the historical use of science to justify social and racial hierarchies. Gould argues that intelligence testing and biological determinism were flawed, reflecting biases rather than objective measures. He emphasizes that factors like environment and culture play significant roles in shaping intelligence. The book highlights the dangers of using measurements to label and categorize people, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of human potential that recognizes individual differences and the impact of societal conditions rather than simplistic, fixed notions of ability.