Albert Edward Wiggam

A wonderful alternative vision of progressivism. Anti-egalitarian technocrats have always been my favorite kind of progressives. It would have been a much better century with them in charge.

The only depressing thing about the book is how the arguments in favor "blank slate" biology haven't changed since 1923 when this book was written. As Science has advanced, egalitarian fundamentalists have just repeated the same anti-scientific nonsense over and over. The arguments the author makes in favor of a hereditary basis for human differences would need to be updated to include twin studies, DNA, and the vast literature of behavioral genetics, while his opponents still smugly assert that "everyone knows" that each individuals potential is unlimited, and that there is no biological basis for the mental characteristics of any person or group. The last ninety years have clearly shown that egalitarians are wrong, and yet their capture of the public mind has been absolute.

On the other hand, his polemics against mass democracy are wonderful!… (meer)