POLYGENIST Meaning and
Definition
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Polygenist refers to a person who adheres to the belief in polygenesis, a theory that suggests the separate creation of different human races. The concept of polygenism suggests that humans are not descended from a common ancestor but rather originated from different lineages, with each race possessing inherent and distinct characteristics. Polygenists reject the notion of monogenism, which asserts that all human races share a common ancestor.
This view gained prominence during the 19th century, particularly within European scientific and philosophical circles. Polygenists often used race as a basis for ranking and categorizing humans, commonly leading to the justification and perpetuation of racial inequalities and discrimination.
Polygenists sought to provide scientific explanations for racial disparities and argued that differences in intelligence, behavior, and physical attributes were innate and immutable, thus supporting racial hierarchies. However, the polygenic theory was widely discredited due to lack of conclusive empirical evidence and the rise of more plausible theories, such as evolution and monogenism, which present a interconnected human lineage.
It is important to note that the polygenist perspective has been widely criticized for its racial biases and implications, as well as its social and ethical consequences. The concept has been largely rejected by contemporary science, which emphasizes the genetic unity and common ancestry of all humans.
Common Misspellings for POLYGENIST
- polyganist
- polygenis
- -polygynist
- polyginist
- oolygenist
- lolygenist
- -olygenist
- 0olygenist
- pilygenist
- pklygenist
- pllygenist
- pplygenist
- p0lygenist
- p9lygenist
- pokygenist
- popygenist
- pooygenist
- poltgenist
- polggenist
- polhgenist
Etymology of POLYGENIST
The word "polygenist" is derived from two separate terms: "poly-" and "-genist".
The prefix "poly-" comes from the Greek word "polys", meaning "many" or "multiple". It is commonly used as a prefix to indicate diversity or multiplicity in words like "polygon" (many-sided) or "polyglot" (speaking multiple languages).
The suffix "-genist" comes from the Greek word "genēs" or "genistēs", meaning "origin" or "race". It is used to imply a person who supports or believes in a particular theory or system related to the specified root word. For example, "theologist" refers to someone who studies or specializes in theology.
By combining these two elements, "polygenist" is formed, literally meaning "believer or supporter of multiple origins or races".
Similar spelling word for POLYGENIST
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