2007-01-29 09:25:37 · 12 answers · asked by Daniel A 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Racism is an idea that is taught. Humans learn their patterns from the influences of their surroundings. John Locke in his work "The Essay Concerning Human Understanding" described newborns as being a "tabula rasa" or blank slate. He was trying to understand where humans get their ideas from. He believed that before we can sense anything our mind is blank. It's up to our influences growing up to decide who we are. In other words the main institutions in a young persons life, i.e. parents church etc.. and when we grow older our friends and other cohorts. If you look at it from Locke's perspective I suppose you could call racist ideals a bit of both, they are a cancer that hinders progress in every society that is the result of peoples lack of understanding or fears or "closed ideas" as you put it in your question.
2007-01-29 09:43:51 · answer #1 · answered by sk8drnkpunk 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ideas and beliefs are what make us human but putting them on others is wrong (same with religion). I'm not saying its OK or wright or wrong to be racist but as long as it stays as a philosophy then it has to be excepted (I'm from Cyprus by the way yet live in London) Others will say I'm a fool but every ones different and that's what these fanatics, religious and racist don't understand and you know what the worst thing is people with the same philosophy as me, always end up paying the worst. The definition of irony! Live and let live.....
2007-01-29 17:39:00 · answer #2 · answered by i_jus_dont_give_a_fuc 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Closed minded. Anyone who calls it a disease is b.s.ing themselves. You may have been brainwashed with it but everyone naturally knows right from wrong. Don't be racist...
2007-01-29 17:29:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
to say that they are a disease would imply that there is a cure or a treatment, and that the racist is not wholly responsible for their feelings (anything we can blame on a disease absolves us from responsibility).
They are just a set of learned behaviors and attitudes.
2007-01-29 17:28:18 · answer #4 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Racism is just such an inherently idiotic idea I am sure it was invented by some dumb Pigger or Nolock!
2007-01-29 17:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by jlarue700 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Racism= hate. Hate= a disease of the human concisenesses which has invaded and proliferated EVERY culture, sub-culture, sex, race, and body type. Its EVERYONES problem, and the only cure is love.
2007-01-29 17:34:40 · answer #6 · answered by prancingmonkey 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are sick ..., and closed minded .. we have come a long way in the last 40 years .. i believe racism begins at home ... if the parents of our children ; lead by a good example .... hopefully , we will have true equality in a generation ; at most two..
2007-01-29 17:55:22 · answer #7 · answered by RICK AKA GRASSHOPPER 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is learned and often taught by society, till enough get the idea that changes are needed.
2007-01-29 17:41:52 · answer #8 · answered by stbill 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
closed minded. They are not being open to people who are different from them.
2007-01-29 17:33:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
neither
Racism is realism, and it is natural. Racism only becomes harmful if it leads to hate.
2007-01-29 17:34:28 · answer #10 · answered by devil's advocate 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋