Environment has no influence?

[Doom Shepherd]

How do we describe "success" in biological or evolutionary terms? Able to survive, reproduce, and pass on one's genetic information?

How would this translate into success in cultural terms? Able to survive, expand, and export one's cultural norms?

 

[rRico]

How do we describe "success" in biological or evolutionary terms? Able to survive, reproduce, and pass on one's genetic information?

How would this translate into success in cultural terms? Able to survive, expand, and export one's cultural norms?

Sounds about right to me.

 

[rRico]

Motivation absolutely matters because motive colors results.

Not if the results are objectively true.

I hope you have a credible source for that extraordinary claim.

Arts, sciences, colonialism, world wars, eradication of indigenous peoples, exploitation. Need I really go on?

Again, what are you defining as "success" here? What does "dominating culture" mean?

Unless this thread moves in another direction very quickly, it would probably be best if it were locked because so far you're showcasing discredited pseudoscience and racist historical narratives, neither of which would belong in this forum.

It is a curious form of racism that works from the assumption that there isn't some "superior" aspect to one group of people or another.

 

[Gov Kodos]

It is a curious form of racism that works from the assumption that there isn't some "superior" aspect to one group of people or another.

It is racism that assumes a group of people are somehow superior to others.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Not if the results are objectively true.

No such thing.

Arts, sciences, colonialism, world wars, eradication of indigenous peoples, exploitation. Need I really go on?

So Europeans are superior because they're the best at mass murder? That's a pretty screwed up barometer for "success," don't ya think?

It is a curious form of racism that works from the assumption that there isn't some "superior" aspect to one group of people or another.

You are promoting the idea that some peoples are just inherently better than others. In case you didn't notice, that's what racism is.

 

[TommyR01D]

I wonder if Crash Course will ever live this down. That Environmental Determinism video was the worst thing I've ever seen from them, it got more dislikes than likes and there wasn't a single positive reaction in the comment section.

There are even other YouTubers putting out long response videos pointing out all the bits they got wrong.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'd never seen a Crash Course video before. What was so bad about that one compared to their usual work? I didn't expect much since it's a mere 10 minutes devoted to what is a very complicated subject.

 

[{ Emilia }]

I won't close this thread for now but I don't see its relevance to the science forum. We are talking about a pseudo-scientific theory.

Considering how the thread developed, consider it killed with fire.

A long discarded 19th century theory that was used to justify colonialism has nothing to do with science&technology.