This article examines the work of anthropologist Franz Boas who, in the early twentieth century, argued against the existence of the stability of the cephalic index, a measure of head shape, and its relation to the mental and moral capacities of human races. The article claims that Boas successfully shifted the burden of proof to his opponents and set the stage for the scientific rejection of belief in innate racial differences in intelligence. The article urges rhetorical scholars to attend to the notions of burden of proof and presumption in scientific controversies over neurological differences.

Book Review| January 01 2007 Science Unfettered: A Philosophical Study in Sociohistorial Ontology Science Unfettered: A Philosophical Study in Sociohistorial OntologyMcGuire, J. E.; Tuchańska, Barbara John P. Jackson,, Jr. John P. Jackson,, Jr. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Philosophy & Rhetoric (2007) 40 (4): 438–441. https://doi.org/10.2307/25655292 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Twitter Permissions Search Site Citation John P. Jackson,; Science Unfettered: A Philosophical Study in Sociohistorial Ontology. Philosophy & Rhetoric 1 January 2007; 40 (4): 438–441. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/25655292 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectivePenn State University PressPhilosophy & Rhetoric Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright © 2007 The Pennsylvania State University2007The Pennsylvania State University Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.