What is the philosophy of eugenics?

Eugenics is the practice or advocacy of improving the human species by selectively mating people with specific desirable hereditary traits. It aims to reduce human suffering by “breeding out” disease, disabilities and so-called undesirable characteristics from the human population.

What are the two kinds of eugenics?

The distinction between positive and negative eugenics is perhaps the best-known distinction that has been made between forms that eugenics takes. Roughly, positive eugenics refers to efforts aimed at increasing desirable traits, while negative eugenics refers to efforts aimed at decreasing undesirable traits.

What are the assumptions of eugenics?

Eugenics, History of It was based on the assumption that differences in human mentality, character, and temperament were largely due to differences in heredity, and driven by fear that the individuals and groups whose heredity was poor were more prolific than those of good stock.

What are the implications of eugenics thinking on social interaction which specific social groups are adversely affected by eugenics thinking?

What are the implications of eugenicist thinking on social interaction? Which specific social groups are adversely affected by eugenicist thinking? The eugenecist thinking gave rise to various discrimination and maltreatment among different social groups.

What is the history of eugenics?

The term eugenics was coined in 1883 by British explorer and natural scientist Francis Galton, who, influenced by Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, advocated a system that would allow “the more suitable races or strains of blood a better chance of prevailing speedily over the less suitable.” Social …

What did Plato say about eugenics?

The philosophy was most famously expounded by Plato, who believed human reproduction should be monitored and controlled by the state. However, Plato understood this form of government control would not be readily accepted, and proposed the truth be concealed from the public via a fixed lottery.

What are some examples of eugenics?

Many countries enacted various eugenics policies, including: genetic screenings, birth control, promoting differential birth rates, marriage restrictions, segregation (both racial segregation and sequestering the mentally ill), compulsory sterilization, forced abortions or forced pregnancies, ultimately culminating in …

What is the most famous example of eugenics in history?

The most famous example of the influence of eugenics and its emphasis on strict racial segregation on such “anti-miscegenation” legislation was Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned this law in 1967 in Loving v. Virginia, and declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional.

What is eugenics and why is it wrong?

Eugenic policies may lead to a loss of genetic diversity. Further, a culturally-accepted “improvement” of the gene pool may result in extinction, due to increased vulnerability to disease, reduced ability to adapt to environmental change, and other factors that may not be anticipated in advance.

Who proposed eugenics?

Francis Galton
The term eugenics was first coined by Francis Galton in the late 1800’s (Norrgard 2008). Galton (1822-1911) was an English intellectual whose body of work spanned many fields, including statistics, psychology, meteorology and genetics. Incidentally, he was also a half-cousin of Charles Darwin.

What is eugenics and why is it important?

Although philosophers have contemplated the meaning and value of eugenics at least since Plato recommended a state-run program of mating intended to strengthen the guardian class in his Republic, the modern version of eugenics had its start with the 19 th century cousin of Charles Darwin, British scientist Francis Galton (1883).

Who were some famous eugenicists?

His ideas were taken up widely in the early part of the 20 th century by seemingly well-intended scientists and policy makers, particularly in the United States, Britain, and the Scandinavian countries. Notable eugenicists included Alexander Graham Bell and Margaret Sanger.

What is “liberal” eugenics?

Philosophers have recently begun to explore the possibility of “liberal” as opposed to “authoritative” eugenics (Agar 2004). Liberal eugenics would be based upon individual free choice, pluralist values, and up-to-date scientific understanding of genetics and epigenetics.

What happened to eugenics after WW2?

Following the end of WWII, the term “eugenic” was so closely associated with the horrific programs of Nazi Germany that eugenics societies across the world changed their names (e.g., the American Eugenics Society became the Society for the Study of Social Biology) and tempered their aims.