1995 Articles

What philanthropy should not learn from "The Bell Curve"

Pollack, Robert

In the essay "What Philanthropy Should Not Learn from The Bell Curve," Robert Pollack critiques the book's implications for public policy and philanthropy. He argues that the book's focus on intelligence as a determinant of socioeconomic success risks justifying social inequality and discouraging efforts to address the root causes of disadvantage. Pollack emphasizes that philanthropy should focus on improving social conditions and enhancing human welfare, rather than adopting a deterministic view of intelligence that could perpetuate inequality.