Eugenics A Controversial Science Essay examples - 1160 Words

Eugenics has been a very controversial science that has existed in the world for centuries. Eugenics is defined as â€Å"the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics)(Dictionary.com, 2005).† Its base came from the idea that the human race could be â€Å"perfected† by getting rid of its undesirable traits and the desirable ones could be multiplied. Physical appearance, IQ, and social capacity could be controlled in humans just as†¦show more content†¦When Adolf Hitler learned of the theory of eugenics, he took Darwin’s phrase â€Å"survival of the fittest† to a completely new level. Hitler, and many other people of that time, took the term â€Å"survival of the fittest† and defined â€Å"the fittest† as the strongest, smartest and most cunning individuals of a species. Through Darwin’s evolutionary theory, â€Å"the fittest† refers to the individuals that have the combination of traits to allow them to survive and produce more offspring in their particular environment. This may not be the strongest, smartest or most cunning individual. In fact it may be the weakest, smallest, least intelligent being, but it po ssesses the best combination of traits and characteristics for it and its offspring to flourish in a particular environment (O’Neil, 2010). Nazi Germany took Darwin’s â€Å"survival of the fittest† phrase in a literal sense and stated that one of their main goals was to apply this â€Å"accepted science† to society. The Nazis became well-known for engineering eugenics programs which would maintain and protect their â€Å"pure† and â€Å"perfect† German race. These programs were justified by the Nazis as â€Å"racial hygiene (Holocaust Encyclopedia, 2010).† The German Nazis, also referred to as the Aryan race, felt that their evolutionary superiority gave them not only the right, but the duty and responsibility to overthrow all other races. HitlerShow MoreRelatedThe Science Of Eugenics Movement1423 Words   |  6 PagesThe science of eugenics was widely used during the 20th century in the United States to strategically eliminate the reproductive rights of women who were deemed inferior on the social ladder (â€Å"What is Eugenics?†). Some women of color, women with disabilities, and women from lower financial classes were sterilized for permanent birth control, and sometimes without their consent or knowledge (â€Å"What is Eugenics?†). The eugenics movement was aimed to promote selective human features in order to increaseRead MoreGenetic Modification Is The New Eugenics1441 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic Modification is the New Eugenics The science of eugenics was widely used during the 20th century in the United States to strategically eliminate the reproductive rights of women who were deemed inferior on the social ladder (â€Å"What is Eugenics?†). Some women of color, women with disabilities, and women from lower financial classes were sterilized for permanent birth control, and sometimes without their consent or knowledge (â€Å"What is Eugenics?†). The eugenics movement was aimed to promote selectiveRead MoreEugenics -Not the Way of the Future Essay721 Words   |  3 PagesEugenics in the world today has become an issue because of its many positive uses furthermore its possible consequences. It is believed by many that eugenics does more harm than good, on the other hand there are exceptions; it is not the way of the future. There is no doubt that it could be extremely useful for preventing diseases such as cancer and others before we are even born. But, with this also comes the ability to give children genes before their born that will give them talent to run fasterRead MoreEssay on Eugenics1060 Words   |  5 Pages The roots of eugenics can be traced back to Britain in the early 1880’s when Sir Francis Galton generated the term from the Greek word for â€Å"well-born†. He defined eugenics as the science of improving stock, whether human or animal. According to the American Eugenics Movement, today’s study of eugenics has many similarities to studies done in the early 20th century. Back then, â€Å"Eugenics was, quite literally, an effort to breed better human beings – by encouraging the reproduction of people with quot;goodquot;Read MoreThe Controversy Of Eugenics And Genetic Engineering1632 Words   |  7 Pagesin the science of genetics. In that time, there have been some subjects that have been highly controversial: eugenics and genetic engineering. The history of these topics is colored with ethical and moral quandaries that have been topics for fierce debates since the early 1900s, and they continue to this day. Eugenics was defined by Francis Galton as â€Å"the science which deals with all influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race† (Galton 1). To put it in different terms, eugenics is aboutRead MoreSale - Pro Plans Are 20% Off Today View Plans. Gradeproof1164 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Any tampering with DNA, any splice, can lead to unforeseeable and even drastic consequences,† (cite). The ethics of Genetic Engineering is controversial both within the scientific community and within society (cite). When scientists in China experimented with editing the genes of an embryo, a meeting was immediately organized by the National Academy of Sciences to debate the ethics of this experiment (cite). Many of the ethical concerns of Genetic Engineering are due to fears of it being used forRead MoreEugenics Is The Idea Of Eugenics1714 Words   |  7 Pagesto eliminate undesired traits and disease? Eugenics is the idea that future generations can be improved through the selection of desirable characteristics. Some find eugenics to be taboo and artificial. Others find it to be the key to improving the gene pool of the human population (â€Å"Sir Francis Galton†). By learning more about the origin, use, and effects of eugenics, one can better speculate on its place in society today. The origin of eugenics goes back to ancient times. People have consistentlyRead MoreAn Evaluation Of The Economic Benefits And Ethical Issues Of Population Control1474 Words   |  6 PagesWorking Title Population control: an evaluation of the economic benefits and ethical issues of population control through the use of eugenics Background The topic of population has been prevalent in the study of economics but particularly since Thomas Malthus published his book ‘Essay on the Principle of Population’ (1798). Malthus was the first economist to propose a systematic theory of population. Malthus proposed in his book that humans grow exponentially whereas the food supply grows atRead MoreArticle Abstracts: Concept of Nazism1283 Words   |  5 Pagesmovement rather than a truly controlling one at the outset, the author concludes. Paul, D. (1984). Eugenics and the left. Journal of the History of Ideas 45(4): 567-90. Examining the concept of eugenics modifying the genetic disposition of a population and of individual offspring through a variety of means as a political and sociological practice, this author points out how directly the motives for eugenics can be and in fact were supplied by socialist and communist perspectives, and were not merelyRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Deviance And Eugenics1542 Words   |  7 Pages GEISY COBAS SOCIOLOGY 443 ANALYSIS PAPER THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF DEVIANCE AND EUGENICS â€Æ' ABSTRACT In this paper I will be analyzing the social construct of deviance and the topic of Eugenics theoretically, and how this practice transitioned from being deviant back in the early 20th century to a modern technology that can be used to help parents have healthy children. I will use different scholarly sources to compare and review different positions in the theories used as they relate to