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Evolution and Ethics of Eugenics

By Sfetcu, Nicolae

Book Id: WPLBN0100302020
Format Type: PDF (eBook)
File Size: 294.88 KB
Reproduction Date: 1/26/20198

Title:	Evolution and Ethics of Eugenics
Author:	Sfetcu, Nicolae
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Social Sciences, eugenics
Collections:	Sociology, Authors Community
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	MultiMedia Publishing

Member Page:	Nicolae Sfetcu
Citation APA MLA Chicago Sfetcu, N. (n.d.). Evolution and Ethics of Eugenics. Retrieved from http://www.self.gutenberg.org/

Description
As eugenics is defined, it is very difficult to make a clear distinction between science (medicine, genetic engineering) and eugenics as a included field. And to set a line over which genetic engineering should not go further, according to moral, legal and religious norms. If we accept the help of genetics in finding ways to fight cancer, diabetes, or HIV, we also accept positive eugenics as they are defined now. And if we accept genetic screening, and interventions on the unborn baby, or abortion, we also implicitly accept negative eugenics. In addition, at government level, although eugenics are officially denied, it has been legalized in many countries until recently, and is still accepted and legalized, albeit in subtle forms, even these days. The section Introduction defines the term and classification modes. The section History of Eugenics follows eugenics from the ancient period, the introduction of eugenics by Francis Galton, the practice of eugenics as a state policy in various countries, and the present eugenics (liberal eugenics). I then analyze various issues raised by the Ethics of Liberal Eugenics, and I have developed a special section for the Future of Eugenics, focusing on the human genome project. Finally, in the Conclusions, I express my personal views on the current practice of eugenics. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28662.45120

Summary
As eugenics is defined, it is very difficult to make a clear distinction between science (medicine, genetic engineering) and eugenics as a included field. And to set a line over which genetic engineering should not go further, according to moral, legal and religious norms. If we accept the help of genetics in finding ways to fight cancer, diabetes, or HIV, we also accept positive eugenics as they are defined now. And if we accept genetic screening, and interventions on the unborn baby, or abortion, we also implicitly accept negative eugenics. In addition, at government level, although eugenics are officially denied, it has been legalized in many countries until recently, and is still accepted and legalized, albeit in subtle forms, even these days. The section Introduction defines the term and classification modes. The section History of Eugenics follows eugenics from the ancient period, the introduction of eugenics by Francis Galton, the practice of eugenics as a state policy in various countries, and the present eugenics (liberal eugenics). I then analyze various issues raised by the Ethics of Liberal Eugenics, and I have developed a special section for the Future of Eugenics, focusing on the human genome project. Finally, in the Conclusions, I express my personal views on the current practice of eugenics. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28662.45120

Excerpt
In this article, I try to argue that, as eugenics is defined, it is very difficult to make a clear distinction between science (medicine, genetic engineering) and eugenics as a included field. And to set a line over which genetic engineering should not go further, according to moral, legal and religious norms. If we accept the help of genetics in finding ways to fight cancer, diabetes, or HIV, we also accept positive eugenics as they are defined now. And if we accept genetic screening, and interventions on the unborn baby, or abortion, we also implicitly accept negative eugenics. In addition, at government level, although eugenics are officially denied, it has been legalized in many countries until recently, and is still accepted and legalized, albeit in subtle forms, even these days. I used, in my work, the articles of Kenneth M. Ludmerer,” American Geneticists and the Eugenics Movement: 1905-1935”, (Ludmerer 1969) Kathy J. Cooke,” Duty or Dream? Edwin G. Conklin's Critique of Eugenics and Support for American Individualism”, (Cooke 2002) Jonathan Anomaly, ”Defending Eugenics”, (Anomaly 2017) John R. Harding Jr. ”Beyond Abortion: Human Genetics and the New Eugenics”, (Harding 2012) Michael Boulter, ”Bloomsbury Scientists”, Chapter Title: ”The rise of eugenics, 1901–14”, (Boulter 2017) Michael Ruse and Edward O. Wilson, ”Moral Philosophy as Applied Science”, (Ruse and Wilson 1986) and Sara Goering, "Eugenics". (Sara 2014) The section Introduction defines the term and classification modes. The section History of Eugenics follows eugenics from the ancient period, the introduction of eugenics by Francis Galton, the practice of eugenics as a state policy in various countries, and the present eugenics (liberal eugenics). I then analyze various issues raised by the Ethics of Liberal Eugenics, and I have developed a special section for the Future of Eugenics, focusing on the human genome project. Finally, in the Conclusions, I express my personal views on the current practice of eugenics.

Table of Contents
Abstract Introduction New Eugenics The Future of Eugenics Conclusions Bibliography