Biological determinism refers to the idea that all human behavior is innate, determined by genes, brain size, or other biological attributes. This theory stands in contrast to the notion that human behavior is determined by culture or other social forces. Inherent to biological determinism is the denial of free will: individuals have no internal control over their behavior and dispositions, and thus are devoid of responsibility for their actions. Often implicit in this line of reasoning is the idea that because humans lack responsibility for determining their own lives, they are rightfully subject to the control of persons biologically determined in more socially acceptable ways. While few biologists fully believe in the idea of biological determinism, the theory has had cultural and political currency both in the shaping of human racial history and in current debates over the relative importance of our genetic qualities (i.e., nature) versus our socialization process (i.e., nurture) in determining our individual physical and behavioral characteristics.
Racists believe mankind is biologically deterministic and that their blood is genetically superior to others. For the racist, its objectively better to be one people over another (their own), and the racist is biologically determined to think they're the superior race. Systemically, racism conforms to a very convenient logical fallacy, and if the racist buys into the conceit, he has no choice but to believe the conclusion he's of superior stock. Useful when appealing to the feelings of audiences, say during witch hunts.
In our present time, the racist is merely somebody another group of people don't like. Perhaps his thoughtcrimes are repulsive, maybe he has no Latino friends, or maybe he wears a postman's mustache. In either case, the modern use of racist is an epithet for somebody who's offended us or might offend somebody. Its an empty word used to signal our own that the person we've libeled isn't one of us. Its a silly word like you would use to tell the missus why the neighbors are dumb and you're not going to the neighbors bbq.
So, next time you watch a news clip or read an article, just replace racist with smelly and you've got the idea: another meaningless word used in derision when nothing substantive differentiates x's point of view from y's, but y must win an inconsequential argument at all costs -- even at the personal ruin of x.
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