Eugenics: a True or Pseudo Science?
Eugenics is the study of and belief in controlled breeding for the production of better people. By better, I mean more socially, mentally, and morally advanced. I am opposed to eugenics for several reasons. The practice of eugenics in the past, has always resulted in denigrating those in society that are the most helpless: the poor, racial and religious minorities, the physically handicapped, the mentally ill and various other groups. I find eugenics to be elitist, racist and indifferent to the desires and beliefs of others.
I hope to answer a few questions about eugenics here. What is eugenics, what is its basis and who originally developed eugenic theory? Are eugenics and genetics the same? What has been effects of the application of eugenics?
The term eugenics was coined by Francis Galton in 1883. (Larson 18) It is from the Greek “eugenes” or well-born. Galton was inspired by the evolutionary theory put forth by his cousin Charles Darwin and through his own research in human heredity. Galton came to the conclusion that human evolution can be directed by selective breeding. In other words, good breeding produces better people. Eugenic theory buttressed Galtons earlier contentions that talent and genius are hereditary. These beliefs also appeared to support the social structure in place at that time in England. (Larson 19)
Initially Galton believed that through “positive eugenics”, that is, encouraging those that were most fit to propagate, human evolution would be hastened and society would benefit. By 1901, Galton was convinced this was not enough to prevent degeneracy and he began to speak out for “negative eugenics”, such as the segregation and sterilization of the unfit. (McLaren 23) Many others of the day , particularly in the medical field, came to the same conclusion that the unfit should be prevented from breeding yet more unfit. These mental defectives were the cause of societies troubles. (Larson 24) The people at the bottom of the social strata were there because of their heredity, they could do no better, they were incapable of anything else. The feeble-minded and defective produced more offspring than the fit and needed to be controlled. (Larson 89, 139)
At the turn of the century, genetics and eugenics were intermixed, but as the science of genetics advanced, a delineation could be seen and some geneticists began to refute eugenic claims (Reilly 113). Many geneticists condemned eugenics as racist after 1924. This being the year that, for eugenic reasons, the Johnson Act was passed in the United States. It greatly limited immigration from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries. (Shapiro 37). Many in the eugenics movement lacked genetic training and knowledge and were politically motivated, but there were geneticists that did support eugenics as some do today (McLaren 129). Books, such as,“The Bell Curve” continue to show a racial difference in intelligence and continue to fuel eugenic speculation. Is eugenics a science? Some geneticists will say that it is, other geneticists say that it is not a science.
Beginning in the late 1800’s, many countries embraced Eugenics. In the early 1900’s, over 30 states in America had laws for involuntary sterilization of individuals due to mental defect, criminal activity, epilepsy, alcoholism and other reasons. A German eugenic sterilization law of 1933 was developed after careful examination of a Californian eugenics study (Reilly 106). (Reilly 105). Sweden, France, Denmark, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Canada, Germany, and America all had eugenic laws to prevent mental defectives from breeding (Reilly 103).
The German eugenic excesses of the 1930’s and 1940’s are very well known. What is perhaps less well known or admitted to is that eugenic controls in America and other countries not only encouraged those German eugenic excesses, but gave tacit approval. The state health officer of Alabama stated to the 1935 legislature, “With baited breath, the entire civilized world is watching the bold experiment in mass sterilization recently launched in Germany.” Many other American eugenicists lauded the Nazi eugenics program ( Larson 146, 147) (Reilly 108). In the United States, immigration of many Jews from Europe was prohibited due to the eugenics inspired Johnson Act of 1924. This gave those trying to escape the coming apocalypse in Europe no escape. It is estimated that Germany involuntarily sterilized over 3, 500,00 from 1933 to 1945. By 1940 Germany was killing its mental patients. In Egfling several hundred mentally challenged children were killed. These were all German people; by 1942 enough outrage was generated by these killings of fellow Germans that this was stopped (Reilly 110).
Consider the following. Planned Parenthood was founded by members of the eugenics movement, run 49 abortion clinics, and is a major supporter for governmental funding of abortions. Blacks constitute about 13% of the American population, but about 36% of the abortions in this country are performed on black women (L.E.A.R.N.). In 1981, Angela Davis wrote that birth control had become a racist strategy of population control (Shapiro 44). Should we assume the disproportionate number of abortions performed on blacks are merely coincidental?
I perceive eugenics to be a pseudo science. I lack the technical training in genetics to qualify this, but there are other areas of study that I apply to make my judgment. John Donne wrote in “Devotions” over three hundred years ago, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main....Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” I too am involved in mankind. In the Levitical laws, I am commanded to love my neighbor as myself (NASB lev 19:18). In Luke 10:29-37 (NASB) I find that all people are my neighbor. In Genesis 9:6 I see that people are made in Gods image (NASB). The only conclusion I can come to is that every person has intrinsic worth; we are all invaluable and irreplaceable, every person is unique and no less worthy than any other. Eugenics teaches us that some people are not worthy of our love and concern. This is not right.
Just as the founders of our country wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Look at that again, Self-Evident... When I examine the arrogant history of eugenics, I wonder why those involved do not stop to consider that we are all made in Gods image. How can anyone come to the conclusion that some are more valuable than others?
Works Cited
Larson, Edward J. (Edward John) Sex, Race, and Science : Eugenics in the Deep South. Baltimore. : Johns Hopkins UP, 1995.
McLaren, Angus. Our Own Master Race : Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945. Toronto, Ont. : McClelland & Stewart, 1990.
The New American Standard Bible. Carol Stream, Ill.: Creation House, 1963.
Reilly, Philip. The Surgical Solution : a History of Involuntary Sterilization in the United States. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins UP, 1991.
Shapiro, Thomas M. Population Control Politics : Women, Sterilization, and Reproductive Choice. Philadelphia : Temple UP, 1985.
L.E.A.R.N. http://learninc.org/