Eugenics is usually a desire by the superior class of humans to create a society whose members are superior and have supernatural abilities. In the world of certain eugenics sections of the society who are considered defective and do not warrant to mix and interbreed. In an attempt to create a perfect society, the beliefs of the eugenicists took into consideration application of the theories of evolution in outrageous mannerism to thwart the influence of defective members of the society (Allen 314-25). In their quest, they supported the application of Darwin’s theories that projected survival only to the fittest members of the society. In this regard, many people were subjected to brutality and genocides as fronted by people like Adolf Hitler. Eugenics comprises of restructuring the process of evolution in an attempt to ensure that only best people in the society can reproduce. In this, they believed that these people will reproduce and become more superior in their conquest. It is normally meant to fast track evolution with the culmination of barbaric handling of the inferior members of the society. The methods used to enhance the continuity of eugenics are often rational and well calculated to ensure that the best form of humanity is allowed to survive (Allen 314-25). It is critical to understand that the structures of eugenicist still exists in the modern society and are conducted with the aim of providing avenues to limit the inferiority of the less fortunate in the society.
History of Eugenics
After the release of the Origin of Species in 1859, Francis Galton attempted to justify the source of social problems in the society using the ideologies advanced by Charles Darwin (Philippa & Bashford 23-37). In his assertion, the problems of humanity were determined by the defective germplasm. In his belief, people of defects could be prevented from reproducing so that the problems of poverty and other social problems would be solved. The idea was taught to his followers in which the message of genetically fit should be allowed to reproduce was passed. In this, the unfit in the society would not be given a chance to reproduce. It is essential under the doctrines of eugenics for people to be subjected to controlled reproduction to help eliminate the bad section of the society that are associated with bad gens. Through knowledge acquisition, the society becomes better but only when a certain section is made extinct with time or through a brutal process that eliminates them. Through the advances of eugenics, selective reproduction should be allowed in the society if there is the determination to create the best form of humanity. It is essential for human survival to be based on the abilities rather than a necessity. Despite the criticism of the acts of eugenicists, a new form of eugenics still exists in the society in which scientists are constantly in pursuit of processes and methodologies to improve human race and eliminate bad traits (Philippa & Bashford 23-37). Through this method, the eugenics are motivated only to allow the best traits in the society to continue reproducing while disallowing the defective traits to be reproduced. It is critical for the understanding to inculcate the elements that constitute the modern eugenics as a form of global governance and human advancements. The efforts have been advanced in the past through segregation, sterilization and where necessary death had been used to ensure that defective traits are not reproduced.
Modern Eugenics
The modern eugenics has been based on information that has been used to create the impression of the society to condemn bad traits that result from bad genes. To fulfill the objectives of eugenics, information discrediting bad traits have been passed to the society in which defective germplasm is portrayed to bring retarded growth, development, low achievement, societal upheavals and even poverty (Skodo 1-27). On the other hand, good genes are taught to create lead to prosperous life, happiness, and healthiness. The main teaching of the ideology is that human traits are enshrined in the genetic code. It is considered to be the blueprint that determines the intellectual gifts in humanity. The society is considered doomed, and their problems such as diseases can only be eliminated through genetic engineering in which gene repair is advanced.
Technique for modern eugenics
Genetic engineering
The modern modification of plants and animals is a continuation of eugenics. In this context, the best forms of plants are reproduced through the genetic combination of best genes to create the best for the society (Tanner 458-79). The emergence of GMOs is a demonstration of human to create superior things in the society that portrays the best form of life. In genetic engineering, the best seeds are produced through technological advances that help come up with seeds that will produce the desired quality. The use of reproductive technological advances has come as a new form of eugenics. While the initial idea was never meant to be used to eliminate people, the Nazi Germans adoption of the ideology to justify genocide made the idea infamous and rejected by many people and the vast society. Gene therapy has been choreographed as a way of correcting genetic defects. In this, the disease genes in many patients are corrected through genetic modification before they are reintroduced to the patient to help replace the defective genes. It is essential for the reproductive health in which technology is used to create cells that can reproduce to replenish the defective cells. The challenges of immunological responses thus make it difficult to advance the full application of genetic engineering in human. In modern eugenics, negative genetic engineering has been used to help detect genetic diseases during pregnancies or before pregnancies to aid the reproduction of the best traits of the human race (Tanner 458-79). In this, the abnormalities of the fetus are detected in the first trimester of the pregnancy. While the attempts have been successful, the discovery of defects often presents plethora of challenges to the parent. They would be faced with decision dilemma over discarding of the embryo. In the advancements of eugenics, the new technology is being used to shape the human evolutionary destiny. The efforts and goals of eugenics have been considered bad and negatively impacting on the society. While the emergence of reproductive technologies and genetic advancement technologies have thus given humans the ability to infuse certain genes into other through scientific methodologies (Weindling 480-99).
Negatives effects of eugenics
Loss of lives
The attempts to create superior humans have often led to bloodshed and eventual deaths of many people in the society. Under the advancement of eugenics ideologies, the Nazi Germans found it justifiable to advance mass murder of millions of Jews (Weindling 480-99). In this, they were attempting to eliminate the inferior section of the society to prevent their reproduction. These were instituted against them to control procreation.
Discrimination
The racial prejudice has been a matter of contention world over in which a certain section of the society subjected black races to brutal treatment and interracial marriages to help limit procreation to a certain section of the society. It was an attempt to ensure that only the best genes are procreated (Weindling 480-99). However, when such efforts became doom, they resorted to sterilization that could be advanced even through force. The marriage restrictions do not serve justice to humanity thus a bad idea that was criticized by many people in the society.
Compulsory sexual sterilization
The use of force to compel the unfit in the society or people with slow mental abilities became common for eugenics (Rydell 667-78). The forced sterilization served to limit the control sexual reproduction through members who were incapacitated. The move rendered individuals with defects the chance to reproduce through sexual intercourse. Such individuals were thus considered unfit to bear children and were condemned to defined fate. Under extreme circumstances, euthanasia could be used to advance the grand scheme.
Why it is a bad idea
The idea of procreation of the best genes is antihuman and ill-motivated. Under the umbrella of human rights, the society is expected to offer equal opportunities to all the members without discriminating due to any form of abnormalities. However, the ideas advanced by eugenics discourage the efforts for equality among humanity thus denying people their fundamental rights (Rydell 667-78). Moreover, eugenics discriminates over individuals in the society thus leading to animosity and consequent war. it is essential that human try to improve nature. However, the use of such ideologies to eliminate reproduction is barbaric and unethical. Sterilization, segregation, and killing to justify the ideology make it dangerous for the human race as it could eradicate future generations through selfish advances.
Work Cited
Allen, Garland E. "Eugenics and Modern Biology: Critiques of Eugenics, 1910-1945." Annals of Human Genetics 75.3 (2011): 314-25. Web.
Levine, Philippa, and Alison Bashford. "Introduction: Eugenics and the Modern World." Oxford Handbooks Online (2010): 23-37. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Skodo, Admir. "Eugenics And Pragmatism: F. C. S. Schiller's Philosophical Politics." Modern Intellectual History Mod. Intell. Hist. (2015): 1-27. Web.
Tanner, Jakob. "Eugenics before 1945." JMEH Journal of Modern European History 10.4 (2012): 458-79. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Weindling, Paul. "Julian Huxley and the Continuity of Eugenics in Twentieth-century Britain." JMEH Journal of Modern European History 10.4 (2012): 480-99. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
Rydell, Robert W. "The Proximity Of The Past: Eugenics In American Culture." Modern Intellectual History Mod. Intell. Hist. 7.03 (2010): 667-78. Web.
