On the question of aptitude for science, Summers said this: “It does appear that on many, many different human attributes—height, weight, propensity for criminality, overall IQ, mathematical ability, scientific ability—there is relatively clear evidence that whatever the difference in means—which can be debated—there is a difference in the standard deviation, and variability of a male and a female population. And that is true with respect to attributes that are and are not plausibly, culturally determined. If one supposes, as I think is reasonable, that if one is talking about physicists at a top 25 research university, one is not talking about people who are two standard deviations above the mean. And perhaps it’s not even talking about somebody who is three standard deviations above the mean. But it’s talking about people who are three and a half, four standard deviations above the mean in the one in 5,000, one in 10,000 class. Even small differences in the standard deviation will translate into very large differences in the available pool substantially out.”
Source (the article linked to in the axios article you cite)
Putting that aside, I don’t see what part of Zvi’s claim you think is taking things further than they deserve to be taken. It seems indisputably true that Summers is both a well-known bullet-biter[1], and also that he has had some associations with Effective Altruism[2]. That is approximately the extent of Zvi’s claims re: Summers. I don’t see anything that Zvi wrote as implying some sort of broader endorsement of Summers’ character or judgment.
If you disagree with something someone said, don’t include words that suggest that he said things he didn’t say. Don’t make false claims.
Don’t try to use links to opinions about what he said as sources but seek to link to the actual statements by the person and quote the passages you found offensive or a factual description of what’s actually said.
Sorry I said he thinks women suck at life the wrong way? Gotta say I’m disappointed that you’re just filing this under “well, technically women do have less variance”. That seems … likely to help paper over the likely extent of threat that can be inferred from his having used a large platform to announce this thing,
Wikipedia describes the platform in which he made the statements as “In January 2005, at a Conference on Diversifying the Science & Engineering Workforce sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Summers sparked controversy with his discussion of why women may have been underrepresented “in tenured positions in science and engineering at top universities and research institutions”. The conference was designed to be off-the-record so that participants could speak candidly without fear of public misunderstanding or disclosure later.”
There’s no reason to translate “we might have less women at top positions because of less variance in women” in such a context into “women suck at life”.
I’m saying I believe he believes it, based on his pattern of behavior surrounding when and how he made the claim, and the other things he’s said, and his political associations
His strongest political affiliations seem to be around holding positions in the treasury under Clinton and then being Director of the National Economic Council under Obama.
Suggesting that being associated with either of those Democratic administrations means that someone has to believe that “women suck at life” is strange.
Source (the article linked to in the axios article you cite)
Putting that aside, I don’t see what part of Zvi’s claim you think is taking things further than they deserve to be taken. It seems indisputably true that Summers is both a well-known bullet-biter[1], and also that he has had some associations with Effective Altruism[2]. That is approximately the extent of Zvi’s claims re: Summers. I don’t see anything that Zvi wrote as implying some sort of broader endorsement of Summers’ character or judgment.
See above.
https://harvardundergradea.org/podcast/2018/5/19/larry-summers-on-his-career-lessons-and-effective-altruism
If you disagree with something someone said, don’t include words that suggest that he said things he didn’t say. Don’t make false claims.
Don’t try to use links to opinions about what he said as sources but seek to link to the actual statements by the person and quote the passages you found offensive or a factual description of what’s actually said.
Wikipedia describes the platform in which he made the statements as “In January 2005, at a Conference on Diversifying the Science & Engineering Workforce sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Summers sparked controversy with his discussion of why women may have been underrepresented “in tenured positions in science and engineering at top universities and research institutions”. The conference was designed to be off-the-record so that participants could speak candidly without fear of public misunderstanding or disclosure later.”
There’s no reason to translate “we might have less women at top positions because of less variance in women” in such a context into “women suck at life”.
His strongest political affiliations seem to be around holding positions in the treasury under Clinton and then being Director of the National Economic Council under Obama.
Suggesting that being associated with either of those Democratic administrations means that someone has to believe that “women suck at life” is strange.