# Jonathan M. Marks

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jonathan_M._Marks
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jonathan_M._Marks.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_M._Marks
> Source revision: 1311426946
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American biological anthropologist (born 1955)

Jonathan M. Marks Born Jonathan Mitchell Marks[1] (1955-02-08) February 8, 1955 (age 71)[1] Occupation Anthropologist Organization(s) University of North Carolina at Charlotte Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism (Nixon, Nevada) Awards W.W. Howells Book Prize[2] J. I. Staley Prize[3] First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal[4] GAD Prize for Exemplary Cross-Field Scholarship[5]

**Jonathan Mitchell Marks** (born February 8, 1955) is a professor of [biological anthropology](/source/Biological_anthropology) at the [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](/source/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Charlotte). He is known for his work comparing the [genetics](/source/Genetics) of [humans](/source/Human) and other [apes](/source/Ape), and for his critiques of [scientific racism](/source/Scientific_racism), [biological determinism](/source/Biological_determinism), and what he argues is an overemphasis on scientific [rationalism](/source/Rationalism) in anthropology. He is a fellow of the [American Association for the Advancement of Science](/source/American_Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Science).[6]

## Early life and education

Born in 1955, Marks studied at the [Johns Hopkins University](/source/Johns_Hopkins_University) in [Baltimore](/source/Baltimore) and took graduate degrees in [genetics](/source/Genetics) and [anthropology](/source/Anthropology) from the [University of Arizona](/source/University_of_Arizona), completing his [doctorate](/source/Doctorate) in 1984.[5]

When Marks was beginning his career, few anthropologists held degrees in genetics.[7] *The Charlotte Observer* quotes him as saying, “Twenty-five years ago I was sort of avant garde. Now it’s much more common.”[7]

## Career

Marks is a leading figure in anthropology, especially when it comes to public discussions of race.[8] His work has been praised by scholars such as [Alondra Nelson](/source/Alondra_Nelson), [Agustín Fuentes](/source/Agust%C3%ADn_Fuentes), and [Barbara J. King](/source/Barbara_J._King).[8]

Marks did post-doctoral research in the genetics department at [UC-Davis](/source/UC-Davis) from 1984 to 1987, then taught at [Yale](/source/Yale) for ten years and [Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) for three, before settling in [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte%2C_North_Carolina) where he is now a professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.[7]

Marks has also served on the board of directors of the [Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism](/source/Indigenous_Peoples_Council_on_Biocolonialism), [Nixon, Nevada](/source/Nixon%2C_Nevada).[9]

He was elected to a fellow of the [American Association for the Advancement of Science](/source/American_Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Science) in 2006.[6]

In 2009, Santa Fe's [School for Advanced Research](/source/School_for_Advanced_Research) awarded him its J. I. Staley Prize for his book *What It Means to be 98% Chimpanzee:* *Apes, People and their Genes.* In their award citation, the review panel noted that the book "is being read across anthropological disciplines" and "engages with issues directly relevant to the future of humanity."[3]

He received the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal in 2012, honoring his career of intellectual inquiry.[4]

Since then he has been a Templeton Fellow (2013–2014) and a Director's Fellow (2019–2020) at the [University of Notre Dame](/source/University_of_Notre_Dame)'s Institute for Advanced Study,[10] and a visiting research fellow at the [Max Planck Institute for the History of Science](/source/Max_Planck_Institute_for_the_History_of_Science) in Berlin and at the ESRC Genomics Forum at the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh).[6]

## Views

Marks' 2002 book *What it Means to be 98% Chimpanzee* argued that there is a significant gap between scientists' knowledge of genetics and their understanding of its functional significance.[4][3] In opposition to [biological determinism](/source/Biological_determinism), Marks explores evidence for synergy between genetic and cultural factors in shaping human traits such as body shape, school performance, athleticism, and even menstrual cycles.[11]

Marks' published works include many scholarly articles and essays. He is an outspoken critic of [scientific racism](/source/Scientific_racism), and has prominently argued against the idea that "[race](/source/Race_(classification_of_human_beings))" is a natural category. In Marks's view, "race" is a negotiation between patterns of [biological](/source/Biological) variation and patterns of perceived difference. He argues that race and human diversity are different subjects, and do not map on to one another well.[4] This view is now the stated consensus of the [American Association of Biological Anthropologists](/source/American_Association_of_Biological_Anthropologists).[12]

As described in his book *Is Science Racist?*, Marks considers science to have four epistemic qualities: [naturalism](/source/Naturalism_(philosophy)), [experimentalism](/source/Experimentalism), [rationalism](/source/Rationalism), and a primary value on [accuracy](/source/Accuracy_and_precision).[8] In this book and in *Why I Am Not a Scientist*, he argues that anthropologists have an ambiguous relationship with science because their goal of illuminating the human condition requires both scientific and [humanistic](/source/Humanism) frameworks.[8]

In reference to the titles of his books, Marks has stated that "he would like it to be known, for the record, that he is about 98% scientist, and not a chimpanzee."[6]

## Selected works

- *Evolutionary Anthropology*, with Edward Staski (1991). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0030237324](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0030237324).

- *Human Biodiversity* (1995). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3110148552](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3110148552).

- *What It Means to be 98% Chimpanzee: Apes, People and their Genes* (2002). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0520240642](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520240642).

- *Why I Am Not a Scientist* (2009). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0520259602](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520259602).

- *The Alternative Introduction to Biological Anthropology* (2010). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0195157036](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195157036).

- *Tales of the Ex-Apes: How We Think about Human Evolution* (2015). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0520285824](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520285824).

- *Is Science Racist?* (2017). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0745689227](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0745689227).

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LOC_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LOC_1-1) [Marks, Jonathan (Jonathan M.), 1955-](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94051929.html)" at [Library of Congress Linked Data Service](/source/Library_of_Congress_Linked_Data_Service).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["W.W. Howells Book Award"](http://bas.americananthro.org/awards/w-w-howells-book-award). *American Anthropological Association: Biological Anthropology Section*. 19 January 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_3-2) ["J. I. Staley Prize"](https://sarweb.org/awards/j-i-staley-prize/). *School for Advanced Research*. April 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ScholarsMedal_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ScholarsMedal_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ScholarsMedal_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ScholarsMedal_4-3) Thornton, Lisa (2012-04-27). ["Jonathan Marks honored by UNCC for anthropology work"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160617161603/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/community/university-city/article9079790.html). *[The Charlotte Observer](/source/The_Charlotte_Observer)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/community/university-city/article9079790.html) on 2016-06-17.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_5-1) ["Past Winners, GAD Prize for Exemplary Cross-Field Scholarship"](http://gad.americananthro.org/past-recipients-gad-prize-for-exemplary-cross-field-scholarship/). *American Anthropological Association: General Anthropology Division*. 26 May 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_6-3) ["Jonathan Marks"](https://anthropology.uncc.edu/node/131). *UNC Charlotte, Department of Anthropology*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_7-2) ["Jonathan M. (Jon) Marks"](http://anthropology.uncc.edu/sites/anthropology.uncc.edu/files/media/JONCV.pdf) (PDF). *anthropology.uncc.edu*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Aero2019_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Aero2019_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Aero2019_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Aero2019_8-3) Moser, Cody. [“Is Science Racist?” Book Review](https://areomagazine.com/2019/01/18/is-science-racist-book-review/). Aero. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism"](http://ipcb.org/). *ipcb.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Jonathan Marks"](https://ndias.nd.edu/fellows/marks-jonathan/). *Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Madrigal, Lorena (October 2002). ["Review: What it Means to Be 98% Chimpanzee: Apes, People, and Their Genes"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC529329). *American Journal of Human Genetics*. **71** (4): 1000–1001. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/342665](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F342665). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [529329](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC529329).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:02_12-0)** ["AAPA Statement on Race & Racism"](https://physanth.org/about/position-statements/aapa-statement-race-and-racism-2019/). *physanth.org*. 2019-03-27. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200322034009/https://physanth.org/about/position-statements/aapa-statement-race-and-racism-2019/) from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2021-04-09.

## External links

- [Blog review of Why I Am Not a Scientist](http://somatosphere.net/2009/08/jonathan-marks-why-i-am-not-scientist.html)

- [Faculty page, UNCC](https://anthropology.uncc.edu/node/131)

- [personal blog](https://anthropomics2.blogspot.com)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Italy Czech Republic Netherlands Norway Korea Israel Catalonia Academics CiNii Google Scholar Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jonathan M. Marks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_M._Marks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_M._Marks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.