Preaching Eugenics (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Christine Rosen
- First Published: 2004
- Type of Work: Ethics, history of science, medicine, and religion
- Time of Work: 1883-1938
- Principal Characters: Kenneth MacArthur, Albert Edward Wiggam, Phillips Endecott Osgood, Walter Taylor Sumner, Harry Emerson Fosdick, John A. Ryan, Stephen Wise
- Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion and spirituality, Health and medicine
- Subjects: United States or Americans, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Science or scientists, Immigration or emigration, Medicine, Health, Nazism or Nazis, Genetics, Holocaust, Jewish, Medical ethics
In 1883, Francis Galton, a British scientist and cousin to Charles Darwin, invented the term “eugenics,” which he derived from a Greek word meaning “good in birth.” Galton sought to employ the powers of modern science to harness the unruly creativity of nature. “What nature does blindly, slowly, ruthlessly, man may do providentially, quickly, and kindly,” Galton confidently argued.
To the devoutly religious, Galton's program for human improvement should have seemed blasphemous. His words suggested that human beings could usurp God's role. Especially disturbing to...
[The entire page is 1659 words long]
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