IssacQuestioin

The Ethics of Eugenics

Should eugenic practices such as the sterilization of people with genetic diseases and/or giving incentives for successful people to breed be put into practice?



Ever since Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime, the word "eugenics" has stirred nothing but negative public attention. Simply because of the association with the Holocaust, anything with the word "eugenics" has been shunned. But now, more than half a century later, is it still right to shun the notion of an entire science simply because of a historical mishap? Let's throw away our preconceptions and take a look at the hard facts surrounding eugenics and whether or not we should actually start to put it into practice by doing things such as sterilizing people with genetic diseases at birth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics http://www.eugenicsonline.netfirms.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_determinism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance_of_intelligence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism

Arguments for: Healthier gene pool Modern "evolution" Less strain on society to provide for the disabled

Arguments against: Slippery slope: neutering people with genetic diseases could just be the start of something holocaust-esque Not ethically sound / human rights violation ; everyone has the right to procreate

Case Study: Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Sterilization_Act_of_Alberta http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Eugenics_Board http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/en/timePortals/milestones/29mile.asp http://www.bcacl.org/index.cfm?act=main&call=f6adfcf2

Case Study: Ancient Sparta http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/n-s/spartans1.html

Caste Study: Nazi Eugenics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_eugenics