Race (human categorization): Difference between revisions

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:''This article is about race as an intraspecies classification. For the many types of competitive [[sport]], see [[Racing]]. For racing conditions associated with [[computer programming]], see [[Race hazard]].''

A '''race''' is a distinct population of [[human]]s distinguished in some way from other humans. The most widely observed races are those based on skin color, facial features, ancestry, [[genetics]], and national origin. Conceptions of race, as well as specific racial groupings, are often [[controversial issue|controversial]] due to their [[politics|political]] and [[sociology|sociological]] uses and implications.

Since the [[1940s]], some evolutionary scientists have rejected the view of race according to which a number of finite lists of [[Essentialism|essential]] characteristics could be used to determine a like number of races. By the [[1960s]], data and models from [[population genetics]] called into question [[taxonomic]] understandings of race, and many have turned from conceptualizing and analyzing human variation in terms of race to doing so in terms of [[population genetics|populations]] and [[cline|clines]] instead. That being said, many scientists still believe that race is a valid and useful concept. Moreover, since the [[1990s]], data and models from [[genomics]] and [[cladistics]] have resulted in a revolution in our understanding of human evolution, which has led some to propose a new "lineage" definition of race. These scientists have made related arguments that races are valid when understood as [[fuzzy set]]s, [[Data clustering|clusters]], or [[Kinship and descent|extended families]]. Currently, opinions differ substantially within and among academic disciplines.

A '''race''' is a distinct population of [[human]]s distinguished in some way from other humans. The most widely observed races are those based on skin color, facial features, ancestry, [[genetics]], and national origin. Conceptions of race, as well as specific racial groupings, are often [[controversial issue|controversial]] due to their [[politics|political]] and [[sociology|sociological]] uses and implications.

Many [[social science|social scientists]], drawing on such biological research, believe common race definitions pertaining to humans have little [[taxonomy|taxonomic]] validity. They argue that race definitions are imprecise, arbitrary, derived from custom, and that the races observed vary according to the culture examined. They further maintain that race is best understood as a [[social construction|social construct]]. However, most biologists hold that race is a valid concept among humans[[#References|¹]]. Some scientists argue that races have arguedthe logical status of [[fuzzy set]]s and that thismovements shiftto isdiscredit human racial classifications are often motivated more by political than scientific reasons.

Since the [[1940s]], evolutionary scientists have rejected the view of race according to which a number of finite lists of [[Essentialism|essential]] characteristics could be used to determine a like number of races. By the [[1960s]], data and models from [[population genetics]] called into question [[taxonomic]] understandings of race, and many have turned from conceptualizing and analyzing human variation in terms of race to doing so in terms of [[population genetics|populations]] and [[cline|clines]] instead. That being said, many scientists still believe that race is a valid and useful concept. Moreover, since the [[1990s]], data and models from [[genomics]] and [[cladistics]] have resulted in a revolution in our understanding of human evolution, which has led some to propose a new "lineage" definition of race. These scientists have made related arguments that races are valid when understood as [[fuzzy set]]s, [[Data clustering|clusters]], or [[Kinship and descent|extended families]]. Currently, opinions differ substantially within and among academic disciplines.

Many [[social science|social scientists]], drawing on such biological research, believe common race definitions pertaining to humans have little [[taxonomy|taxonomic]] validity. They argue that race definitions are imprecise, arbitrary, derived from custom, and that the races observed vary according to the culture examined. They further maintain that race is best understood as a [[social construction|social construct]]. Some scientists have argued that this shift is motivated more by political than scientific reasons.

==Summary of different definitions of race==