CL 9/24

TMM is a fine example of a discourse community. The author is disproving the “established” science of evolution and how it related to different races in comparison to whites.

1.) a.)The discourse community of evolutionary science had a clear and common goal. Despite the community being previously misguided by established prejudice. b.)This community certainly also had its own mechanisms of inter-communicating with itself. The scientific language and ways in which evolutionists discourse with each other is and was beyond the outsider. c.) Information and feedback is disseminated in this community by way of scientific journals, letters, etc. This community also had dues to establish membership; becoming educated and specializing in this field was necessary to participate. d.) Finally, This discourse community fits the threshold limitation in my opinion. It requires commitment, time, money, and intellect to join this particular discourse community. With limited apprentices joining and existing members dying, it seems to be a limited pool of individuals that society places a lot of trust into. We trust science to explain what we don’t know or what we strive to know more about. The common person doesn’t have access to such world changing promise. This is why it is crucial in my opinion for discourse communities to not be closed off or subject to rhetorical ideas or general foolishness of the times.

2.) It appears that the evolutionary science community spread their knowledge through publications, journals, and passed along through mentor-ship/teaching.

3.) The prejudices at the time were perpetuated by scientists who as I said above, society puts much credence into. This community was the word of authority and still is to this day. The idea that they could be misguided and spread misinformation helped establish the Jim Crow laws that further divided us by race and the idea that your race defined your merit.