Eugenics

Introduction Eugenics has become somewhat of a buzzword in mainstream discussions of the topic. As with most buzzwords, it is overused to the point of overshadowing broader applications of the topic (For an example see Peter Singer on Animal Rights pp. 196-203). Notwithstanding, this paper will discuss heavily the topic of Eugenics, and more specifically Julian Savulescu’s stand on Eugenics and whether he believes in endorsing a program of eugenics. Savulescu’s opinion will be analyzed mostly by…

As genetic and reproductive technologies advance, ethical concerns also continue to grow. Eugenics means “well-born”, and it is a movement whose purpose is to improve the genetic composition of the human race. The eugenics movement began in the U.S. in the late 19th century and was focused on stopping the transmission of negative or undesirable traits from one generation to the next. This was accomplished back then through sterilization of unfit individuals to prevent them from passing on…

The term eugenics derives from the Greek language, eugenics translates to “good genes” in Greek. Eugenics is the controlling of the reproduction of a society to gain desirable traits or eliminate undesirable traits. Rawl’s Contract Theory refers to a social contract among the individuals involved for mutual advantage and follows principle in which everyone agrees to. Everyone must agree on a decision before the event occurs behind a “veil of ignorance.” According to Rawl’s Contract Theory, or…

The people in the program didn’t look at it as meaningless killing of innocents and more like a cleansing.“The program was one of many radical eugenic measures which aimed to restore the racial "integrity" of the German nation,” (“Euthanasia Program”). Officials of the Program didn’t think that they were even good enough to be it their society. “The official conclusion of the T4 Program in 1941…

this to the uprising of a new form of eugenics. Michael Dorsey (2002), a Thurgood Marshall Fellow in Residence at Dartmouth College stated “accepting the logic of eugenics in one context opens the door for justifying more controversial practices.” These controversial practices will be detrimental and lead to various ethical and moral issues within society. The word Eugenics was first coined by a British scientist who then distinguished two forms of Eugenics, positive and negative. Positive being…

Shala shuler Blog 5 In the chapters 8,9, 11 in Davidson textbook and The Eugenics website displayed many events that happened during the 19th and 20th century. There were a lot of photographs and documentation of past events. In chapter 8, “ The view from the bottom of the rail” describes how blacks treated unfair by whites but eventually things started to change. In Davidson text it said, “ Freedom had come to a nation of four million slaves, and it changed their lives in deep and…

What really caught my attention when reading through the articles were the eugenic sterilization laws. You can really generate an idea of how harsh these laws were by the statement Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes dispensed of how “three generations of imbeciles were enough” (Kevles, 10) during the Buck v. Bell Supreme Court case in 1927. What is even more shocking was learning that two-dozen states during this time period had endorsed laws that permitted the sterilization of such peoples. We look…

Women had a very important job in Germany during National Socialism, to marry a German man and bear many German children. However, marriage was only to be about having children. Women were expected to be good wives to their husbands, good mothers to their children, and keep the house clean. Not only this but, women were encouraged to have as many children as they could to fix the falling birth rate and create a strong nation. The Nazis wanted women to believe that having very many children was a…

According to Sharon M. Leon in his essay: “Beyond Birth Control: Catholic Responses to the Eugenics Movement in the United States, 1900-1950”, the principle of this ideology is differentiating between biologically superior and inferior individuals and fighting for public policy measures such as sterilization, sexual segregation, anti- miscegenation…

desperation, many revered eugenics as means of escape from the challenges society was facing. Many intellectuals, scientists, medical practitioners, and political figures agreed with the belief system of the eugenics movement. Of these people, Aldous Huxley was one who believed firmly but skeptically in eugenics. His brother, Julius Huxley, and many of his companions were also heavily involved in this movement. Eugenics’ influence is evident in his book, Brave New World. Eugenics’ influence on…