Scholarlink

The widespread circulation and alteration of Johann Friedrich Blumenbach’s racial theory across various contexts is a key reason for its differing evaluations. This chapter will explore Blumenbach’s practices of “collecting” and comparing skulls, focusing on the methodological changes in relation to concepts of “race” introduced by his successors, Samuel George Morton in the United States and Paul Broca in France. I argue that these changes and adaptations in different places contributed to the stability of Blumenbach’s classification. Relationality links “race” and comparing, which is what makes their relationship so revealing. Practices of comparing ensured the stability of “race” through their continuous and flexible actualization in different contexts. The meaning and conceptualization of racial theories evolved through the intricate interaction of various practices, scientific principles, and emerging political and social developments.

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

The Dissemination and Alteration of Blumenbach’s Racial Classification in Nineteenth-Century Polygenetic US-Ethnology and French Anthropology

  • 章节

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

查看全文
  • Malin S. Wilckens

摘要

The widespread circulation and alteration of Johann Friedrich Blumenbach’s racial theory across various contexts is a key reason for its differing evaluations. This chapter will explore Blumenbach’s practices of “collecting” and comparing skulls, focusing on the methodological changes in relation to concepts of “race” introduced by his successors, Samuel George Morton in the United States and Paul Broca in France. I argue that these changes and adaptations in different places contributed to the stability of Blumenbach’s classification. Relationality links “race” and comparing, which is what makes their relationship so revealing. Practices of comparing ensured the stability of “race” through their continuous and flexible actualization in different contexts. The meaning and conceptualization of racial theories evolved through the intricate interaction of various practices, scientific principles, and emerging political and social developments.