I can only say this so many times: *of course* IQ is heritable in the statistical sense. No one who knows me or my work could possibly think I need this explained to me. We said so in the first paragraph of our original piece. /1 goo.gl/SZpKhx @kph3f @ezraklein
But the general heritability of IQ has 0 implications for the causes of a particular group difference. I get it that saying, maybe the group difference is *partly* genetic seems like a moderate stance on a polarized topic, but that is an illusion. /2
Speculating in the absence of convincing theory or empirical evidence that a race is genetically inferior on a trait as important as IQ-- the partly is no help-- *is* the polarized view, the other pole being the belief that genetics has nothing whatever to do with behavior. /3
There is no scientific theory in which to frame the notion of partial genetic determination of group differences; no empirical evidence that strongly suggests it's true; no examples of other, less controversial behavioral traits for which it has turned out to be true. /4
I'll say one more thing in the interest of keeping the heat down. I am sorry we used the phrase "junk science". That was just name calling, and it didn't help.
