Explanation of Concepts

For each of the five concepts below, please provide a brief definition/explanation.
For each concept, please also provide an example that illustrates the concept.

Neoliberalism

Ontology

Biological Determinism

Binaries (sometimes referred to as Dualisms)

Cycle of Credibility

Please select two of the three prompts below to respond to.
For each of the two short answers chosen, please provide a thoughtful and well-organized response that addresses each component of the prompt.
Please provide at least two distinct examples for each prompt (4 examples total) in explaining/elaborating each response.
Prompt #1

During the past four weeks, we’ve been discussing the ways in which gender, sex, race, and ethnicity have been ‘scientifically’ conceptualized. We’ve seen that historically, these and additional concepts have often been discussed within a biological determinist framework. We have also seen how social constructionist approaches conceptualize categories like gender, sex, race, and ethnicity from a social constructionist framework.

First, please explain the general position of biological determinism – what are its central arguments about the relationship between biology and society? Are there critiques that might be directed at this approach?

Then, please explain the general position of social construction frameworks as applied to the concepts of gender and race, respectively. What central arguments about the relationship between individuals and society do social construction accounts make? Are there critiques that might be directed at this approach?

Prompt #2

Following our investigations into the construction of classification systems/categorization schema, we have been exploring the increasing role of genetics in relation to questions of identity, community, and health/illness. In particular, we have considered the possibilities and limitations of a ‘geneticized’ understanding and explanation of individuals.

First, please briefly explain the concept of ontology. What, specifically, does this term mean?

Next, please identify two examples from our course materials between weeks 7 and 10 that examine the role of genetics in understandings of identity (individual and/or group/collective identity).*** How, specifically, do these two examples demonstrate negotiations of genetic information in the context of understanding one’s or others’ identities?

***Course materials from weeks 7-10 may include readings, lectures, discussion boards, and/or clips/documentaries. Please review our course syllabus and/or slides on Canvas to review all of the options. The choice is yours! – just please make sure all three examples are drawn from our course materials.

Finally, to your estimation, how significant (if any) a role should genetics play in understandings and explanations of ourselves – individually, collectively, legally, medically, etc.? Do you see benefits arising from understanding/explaining people in relation to genes? Do you see potential problems arising from understanding/explaining people in relation to genes?