Classically Illogical and Currently Illegal: Social Science and Humanity Courses under HB-2281

• In Event: 540 - Section on Science, Knowledge, and Technology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 08. Science in Political Debate

Abstract

The Arizona legislature and governor passed HB 2281 in spring 2010, making it illegal for public school curricula, including colleges and universities, to “promote resentment toward a race or class of people” and to “advocate ethnic solidarity.” Consequently, we examine the “science” of Division of labor and socio-cultural evolution discursive formations by using scientific theory evaluation established by Albert Einstein and Karl Popper, and in doing so we find 38 root contradictions. These discursive formations fail to be rational and scientific, and we assert their true academic utility is legitimating racial and ethnic privilege for Europeans. Thus, under HB-2281, every social science and humanities course that “promotes” socio-cultural evolution and the Division of labor is unconstitutional in Arizona because these scientifically merit less theories advocate European superiority, and as such promote European solidarity while promoting resentments towards peoples defined as inferior to the European. [Word Count:144]

Author

• James Curiel, Norfolk State University