Summary:
Social issues, forced sterilization, as well as racial discrimination are concerns which demonstrate the unethical ideology of eugenics. Eugenics is the study of human heredity, aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human stock.
Eugenics is the study of human heredity, aimed at improving the genetic quality of the human stock. Similarly, it can be understood better as the process that selective breeding can improve human society. Taken from a scientific approach, eugenics attempts to create a genetically superior race. Thus, destroying moral standards of what should be decided and who should decide. I strongly disagree with this method of genetic engineering because it portrays various unprincipled attributes. Social issues, forced sterilization, as well as racial discrimination are concerns which demonstrate the unethical ideology of eugenics. These are concerns which separately pose disagreement among many variety of people, and when combined form a much larger issue.
The negative factors of social issues intensify as genetic knowledge enhances. For instance, human strife for genetic perfection is a costly practice, this result's in a broadening gap, which already exists between the rich and less fortunate. Therefore, eugenics creates obvious classes between the human populations. Besides class segregation, ethnocentrism also results from eugenics. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one ethnic group is better than others. Eugenics favours the breeding of certain ethnic groups creating superiority and dominance. In addition, long lasting prejudice is a consequence of selective breeding. Adverse judgements and already formed opinions are produced because scientists select who, and what kind of people should be reproducing. For that reason, judgements are made about the individuals who are and are not chosen to continue breeding. Social issues resulting from eugenics consists of class segregation, ethnocentrism, and prejudice.
Eugenics can be argued as the antithesis of reproductive freedom because it is essentially concerned with competitive fertility. Consequently, competitive fertility introduces the method of sterilization which is the act of making an individual infertile. The idea of eugenics was to improve society by screening out and sterilizing people diagnosed as genetically unfit. Those with desirable genes would be given incentives to reproduce. Regardless of the reasons in support of sterilization, restricting an individual's ability to reproduce is viewed as a violation of their constitutional rights. As Canadian citizens, we are given the privilege of freedom. However, sterilization contradicts this favour. Eugenics brings forth the question of whether scientists should be playing god. It is immoral to allow another human being, the ability of dictating another individual's aptitude to reproduce. Biologically, a negative aspect of sterilization is that you can severely alter the gene pool. Altering the human gene pool can eventually weaken the human race, instead of strengthening it by weeding out the supposedly weak in the first place. Sterilization is a violation of constitutional rights, allows scientists to play the role of god, and also weakens the human race.
Not only does eugenics limit the reproductive freedom of individuals, it can also be considered as the Siamese twin of racism. They share the same repulsiveness, and often concealed faces. Racism is practiced by genetic selection, with the belief that the excluded races are weak and unworthy of reproduction. Likewise, eugenics discourages the breeding of races in turn making them more of a minority. On the other hand, severe cases of racism may result in genocide. In the past, Hitler's practice of genocide resulted in the death of one third the Jewish population. In other words eugenics creates racism which in turn influences the practice of genocide. Furthermore, it is controversial about who decides, and how it is decided which race is more advanced than another. Scientists currently conclude which races are superior and inferior, but what gives them the right to do this? No individual should have the power to deem a race unfit to live. In other words, eugenics is a primary example of an abuse of power. Eugenics results in racism which then leads to minority races, the influence of genocide, and a demonstration of power abuse.
All men are created equally; therefore no individual should have control over the life and worth of their fellow humans as the science of eugenics is capable of allowing. Social dilemmas caused by this philosophy create misguided conceptions of each other. It is morally wrong to base our opinions on money, ethnic backgrounds, and scientist based judgements. Preformed opinions only lead to barriers between the human populations. Taking away an individual's ability to reproduce can be compared to playing the role of god. It is not nature's intention to allow scientist's god's role, nor is it correct to violate freewill, and manipulate the human race. Deeming races unfit to live and reproduce can result in the extinction of races, genocide, and power abuse. Who are we to decide which races should live, and which should not? Nature should be given back its role, and humans should be placed rightfully back into the cycle of life. Eugenics strongly illustrates unethical qualities due to its composition of social dilemmas, forced sterilization, in addition to racial bigotry. Take a moment to think about your biological and psychological make up. Do you have any flaws? For example, do you have bad vision, or diabetes, perhaps even low academics? Maybe you are a member of a minority group? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and eugenics was widely practiced, you would not be here today.
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