The History of EugenicsThe History of EugenicsHow many ideas have there been in the history of How many ideas have there been in the history of

mankind which were unthinkable ten years before and mankind which were unthinkable ten years before and which, when their mysterious hour struck suddenly which, when their mysterious hour struck suddenly

appeared, and spread all over the earth?appeared, and spread all over the earth?~Dostoyevsky~Dostoyevsky

Plato’s Plato’s The RepublicThe Republic

““The best men must have intercourse with the best The best men must have intercourse with the best women as frequently as possible, and the opposite is women as frequently as possible, and the opposite is true of the very inferior.“true of the very inferior.“

Proposed the establishment of a fixed lottery in which Proposed the establishment of a fixed lottery in which each person was assigned a “marriage number” each person was assigned a “marriage number” corresponding to a quantitative assessment of their corresponding to a quantitative assessment of their fitnessfitness

He believed this system would lead to a predictable He believed this system would lead to a predictable improvement of the human race.improvement of the human race.

Evidence of Eugenics in HistoryEvidence of Eugenics in History

Sparta: phenotypic selection through Sparta: phenotypic selection through infanticideinfanticide Weak or undesirable babies were abandonedWeak or undesirable babies were abandoned

Rome:Rome: Fourth Table of Roman stated that deformed Fourth Table of Roman stated that deformed

children would be put to deathchildren would be put to death

Sir Francis GaltonSir Francis Galton

Inspired by Darwin’s Inspired by Darwin’s Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species He believed societies in favor of spending resources on He believed societies in favor of spending resources on

the weak were in opposition to natural selectionthe weak were in opposition to natural selection Defined eugenics as: “the science which deals with all Defined eugenics as: “the science which deals with all

influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race; influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race; also with those that develop them to the utmost also with those that develop them to the utmost advantage.”advantage.”

His approach to eugenics was based upon social His approach to eugenics was based upon social statisticsstatistics

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

Practiced negative and positive eugenicsPracticed negative and positive eugenics Forced sterilization, euthanasia Forced sterilization, euthanasia Awarded Aryan women for having many children with Awarded Aryan women for having many children with

Aryan menAryan men Some argued that the Holocaust was "a vast dysgenic Some argued that the Holocaust was "a vast dysgenic

program to rid Europe of highly intelligent challengers to the program to rid Europe of highly intelligent challengers to the existing Christian domination by a numerically and politically existing Christian domination by a numerically and politically minuscule minority.”minuscule minority.” ~Seymour W. Itzkoff~Seymour W. Itzkoff

United StatesUnited States

Alexander Graham Bell recommended Alexander Graham Bell recommended deaf individuals not be allowed to marrydeaf individuals not be allowed to marry

Thirty states adopted legislation to perform Thirty states adopted legislation to perform forced sterilization on those deemed forced sterilization on those deemed “mentally unfit.”“mentally unfit.”

Eugenics VideoEugenics Video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2900862928394447521&q=eugenics&total2900862928394447521&q=eugenics&total=372&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=searc=372&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=7h&plindex=7

http://video.google.com/videoplay?http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4328629524891345415&q=eugenicdocid=4328629524891345415&q=eugenics+history&total=41&start=0&num=10&so=s+history&total=41&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=00&type=search&plindex=0

DiscussionDiscussion In New York, incest between close relatives is a felony with a In New York, incest between close relatives is a felony with a

maximum penalty of four years in prison. Is this law a form of maximum penalty of four years in prison. Is this law a form of eugenics? What role, if any, should the state have in preventing eugenics? What role, if any, should the state have in preventing unions that would inevitably lead to “undesirable” offspring?unions that would inevitably lead to “undesirable” offspring?

Some states require a blood test to check for venereal disease Some states require a blood test to check for venereal disease before issuing a marriage license. How would you feel about before issuing a marriage license. How would you feel about mandatory genetic testing for couples planning to marry?mandatory genetic testing for couples planning to marry?

References:References:

http://personal.uncc.edu/jmarks/http://personal.uncc.edu/jmarks/eugenics/eugenics.htmleugenics/eugenics.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics http://www.eugenics.net/http://www.eugenics.net/ ftp://refugia.net/pub/DE2e_eugenic.pdfftp://refugia.net/pub/DE2e_eugenic.pdf