The Evolution Of Eugenics

Eugenics is a type of science that manipulates mankind by the sterilization of incompetent people with intentions to improve the value of our society. In the mid 1800’s Charles Darwin’s natural selection gave pathway to eugenics. More of the science behind eugenics began to develop in 1902 on the Cold Spring Harbor Campus by a professor know as Charles B. Davenport (Farber, 2008). Mr. Davenport began the study of biological study on evolution on animals which eventually evolved to the study of eugenics among people. As studies began to get deeper into the science behind it, and the want to stop the procreation of incompetent people in society the eugenics movement began. The eugenics movement is the sterilization of humans who were deemed …show more content…
According to Schmalleger (2016), the root causes of criminality were largely passed from generation to generation in the form of bad genes” (p.50). Thus, the idea that sterilization would be best for the evolution of mankind. With the focus of discontinuing of mentally ill people in order to better humanity. The case regarding Buck V. Bell began the controversy with eugenics. Buck V. Bell was the case that determined it best to sterilize Ms. Buck and her family for the sole purpose of them becoming unable to bore any children due to them being diagnosed as feeble minded individuals. Following the sterilization of the Buck family, thousands of other people were forced to undergo the same procedure. It wasn’t until the late 1970’s early 1980’s that the original sterilization law finally was repealed and eugenics became a thing of the past in the eyes of the law (Lombardo, 1983). However, it didn’t ease the mind of the individuals who underwent this procedure. The mental anguish will continue with these unfortunate humans for ever really. This has cause many to seek legal compensation and others to hide the fact that it ever happened to …show more content…
Genes are passed on from parent to child and with that so do the traits those genes carry. This could most definitely be the passing of a mental illness or impairment. Although, this finding came way after the case of Buck V. Bell, and therefore the unfortunate event of sterilization occurred. If this research was available during this case better testing could have been performed, and maybe another outcome would have come about for Ms. Buck. I think that since technology has change so much over the years and there is now better testing performed to deem someone mentally unstable that yes, the use of genetic testing should be used in certain court cases. As stated by, Genet (1995), “Genetic testing may provide clarification of an uncertain diagnosis if diagnostic data from other sources are inconclusive, or if interpretations of diagnostic data are limited by the sensitivity of other evaluations (para. 21). Genetic testing, when done lawfully and sufficiently, should be allowed in legal decisions when it is deemed