Hi Mrrzy,

"Science CANNOT measure the essence of a person. It cannot determine character or the WILL to succeed."

I think it can and does. There are forces in environment, psychology and behavior that can be measured and certain predictions can be made. As for "essence", this is a concept unsupportable by physical or scientific means and as a result it is also questionable that
it exists.

" I have known incredibly intelligent people who have done little with their lives and I have known "plodders" who plod on and do quite well because of other intangibles that make up their personality."

Yes, but these characteristics can be explained by sociology and psychology. These are no t necessarilly unpredictable.

" Race and cranial capacity play no identifiable role in a person's intelligence."

1. This is determined by scientific means.
2. There are different kinds of intelligence. IQ's are only one form.

" I recall seeing a special on PBS about the human brain and one Japanese person was missing over two thirds of his brain. Only his right occipital lobe functioned but he had an extraordinary and intelligent mind.   Science can get at some things but it is those "intangibles" that make all the difference."

I remember that special. They did state a plausible reason for this having to do with the
firing of available neurons. Research on this issue is now taking place.

When talking about undefinable terms such as "essence" or even "intelligence", they are
so vague as to question whether they exist at all. There are many forms of intelligence that are measurable. "Essence" is a vague term but if we define it as being something that is felt by others in an individual, this is also measurable in psychological reactions.

You state previously:

"Unfortunately this doesn't sit well with the PC crowd as it makes distinctions which seem to predetermine that some will succeed in life and some will never do well."

We have to ask what "succeed in life" means. Succeed on whose terms? These questions are answerable and science can play a role in this.

" Could an intellectual triage be far away??? The practitioners of science measured the cranial capacity of black folks and found that there is a significant statistical difference between the white race and the black!!! Now THERE is something that is quantifiable! What does it mean? Are black people inferior to white people? It's true! It's science!"

The conclusion doesn't support the supposition. You stated the cranial capacity may not have anything to do with intelligence even with a statistical difference. This can be
verifiable by scientific means and undoubtably has been. When you say "inferior" we need to know what you mean. Inferior in what way? I maintain that there are individual differences between every individual that can be measured in a scientific manner.
Cranial capacity may only be one variable if it is shown to be one at all. There is an argument suggested by some anthropologists that the notion of "race" is perhaps
a misnomer. The common characteristics associated with race have been questioned
as to whether there really is a distinct caucasion or negroid or (?) race. These questions which have always assumed to be true are being questioned by science today and new conclusions are being drawn.

There is nothing mystical or supernatural about the conclusions we draw of human behavior and psychology. This is measurable by science. Science is not a religion.
It maintains a flexibility always in light of new information. Religion tends toward dogma
but science must reject dogma to progress.

"Essences", "spirits","souls" and other vague metaphysical terms are up for grabs as being valid when subject to scientific scrutiny.

Frank Hamilton