Affiliation:
1. 75 Wykeham Way, Haddenham, Aylesbury, HP17 8BU
Abstract
The method of improving the human genetic constitution divides into positive and negative eugenics. Positive eugenics is the policy of encouraging and promoting the procreation of those with socially desirable faculties and abilities. Negative eugenics on the other hand is designed to limit the procreation of those with a poor, disadvantageous genetic constitution which may be transmitted to their offspring. Policy proposals to achieve the aims of positive eugenics included family allowances, grants towards the education of children of able families, counselling, physical and psychological testing, medical examination to facilitate ssortative marriage of desirable parents and banking sperm of outstanding men for insemination of comparable women. These were all vigorously advocated. Fisher stated in a review of an article by Leonard Darwin that
Galton's work in fact left no room for doubt that if the methods of the stockyard were applicable to mankind the human race could be improved in any desired direction, within a short historical period, to an extent exceeding existing differences between widely different races.
Despite continued vigorous approbation the practical outcome of positive eugenics proposals seems very little in terms, for instance, of government enquiries, formal scientific trials or earnest attempts at practical application.
Subject
History and Philosophy of Science
Cited by
5 articles.
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