eugenics

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is practiced among savages whereby the weak in body or mind are soon eliminated. The aid which we civilized men feel impelled to give to the helpless is mainly an incidental result of the instinct of sympathy, which was originally acquired as part of the social instincts, but subsequently rendered more tender and more widely diffused. Nor could we check our sympathy, even at the urging of hard reason, without deterioration in the noblest part of our nature culpability for an overwhelming present ev

With savages, the weak in body or mind are soon eliminated... and those that survive commonly exhibit a vigorous state of health. We civilized men, on the other hand, do our utmost to check the process of elimination. We build asylums for the imbecile, the maimed and the sick... we institute poor-laws... and our medical men exert their utmost skill to save the life of every one to the last moment. There is reason to believe that vaccination has preserved thousands, who from a weak constitution would formerly have succumbed to small-pox. Thus the weak members of civilized societies propagate their kind. No one who has attended to the breeding of domestic animals will doubt that this must be highly injurious to the race of man. It is surprising how soon a want of care, or care wrongly directed, leads to the degeneration of a domestic race... but excepting in the case of man himself, hardly anyone is so ignorant as to allow his worst animals to breed. . . . The aid which we feel impelled to give to the helpless is mainly an incidental result of the instinct of sympathy, which was originally acquired as part of the social instincts, but subsequently rendered, in the manner previously indicated, more tender and more widely diffused. Nor could we check our sympathy, even at the urging of hard reason, without deterioration in the noblest part of our nature. The surgeon may harden himself whilst performing an operation, for he knows that he is acting for the good of his patient... but if we were intentionally to neglect the weak and helpless, it could only be for a contingent benefit, with an overwhelming present evil. Hence we must bear without complaining the undoubtedly bad effects of the weak surviving and propagating their kind... but there appears to be at least one check in steady action, namely the weaker and inferior members of society not marrying so freely as the sound... and this check might be indefinitely increased, though this is more to be hoped for than expected.

is grounded in a fear which results in our having been God-like in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but rabbit-like in our unplanned breeding of ourselves.

We have been God-like in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but we have been rabbit-like in our unplanned breeding of ourselves. Arnold J. Toynbee

The problem with the gene pool is that there’s no life guard.

is a domain where we can breed cattle for milk yield, horses for running speed, and dogs for herding skill, so it follows that we ought also be able to breed humans for mathematical, musical or athletic ability.

But if you can breed cattle for milk yield, horses for running speed, and dogs for herding skill, why on Earth should it be impossible to breed humans for mathematical, musical or athletic ability? Objections such as "these are not one-dimensional abilities" apply equally to cows, horses and dogs and never stopped anybody in practice. I wonder whether, some 60 years after Hitler's death, we might at least venture to ask what the moral difference is between breeding for musical ability and forcing a child to take music lessons. Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and they are good ones, which would probably end up persuading me. But hasn't the time come when we should stop being frightened even to put the question?

is a belief that extends the function of philanthropy to future generations, .

Eugenic belief extends the function of philanthropy to future generations." Francis Galton, Essays in Eugenics: Eugenics as a Factor in Religion, 1905

is not a bad idea if we consider that the problem with the gene pool is really that there’s no life guard.

is justifiable --- If we forbade the discontented, the sullen, the atrabilious to propagate their kind we might transform the world into a garden of happiness.

Europe If we forbade the discontented, the sullen, the atrabilious to prop.8ate their kind we might transform the world into a garden of happiness.

is wise --- The best of either sex should be united with the best as often, and the inferior with the inferior as seldom, as possible.

Eugenics The best of either sex should be united with the best as often, and the inferior with the inferior as seldom, as possible.

eugenics, n.Memes

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