- 03/12/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Not so long ago in our science the word “eugenics” and the word “genetics” were abusive. From genetics curse eventually withdrew, but eugenics – the science of improving the human race – even now remains as somewhat questionable, related to inhumane experiments of the Nazis and other experiments of the same persuasion. The majority of the uninitiated is bad, what is eugenics really. Broberg (1996) illustrated that one doctor in response to an attempt to turn the conversation about “sensitive issues” said: “you should say exactly what is not in order – as we otherwise understand the reason of illness”. Eugenics – it is something like a “painful question for humanity”. So to talk about it is not only interesting but also useful. I would like to discuss in this paper questions connected with the morality of eugenics. In my opinion it is necessary to find an answer on the question: Does eugenics necessary in its practical application, and if necessary, to what degree? In addition, I would like to think about morality of eugenics as hereditary improvement through genetic control.
First of all it is necessary to define the term “eugenics”, because it will help us be more professional in our judgments and that is why it is necessary to mention that eugenics is the study of hereditary human health, as well as ways to improve its hereditary properties. In modern science, many problems of eugenics are particularly the fight against hereditary diseases that are solved in the framework of human genetics. Now instead of the term “eugenics” we usually used more neutral term “genetic engineering”. According to Ordover (2003) we see that “Eugenics is defined in two senses: in the literal Webster 1913 sense, it just means “The science of improving stock”. But it also carries strong connotations of social control, as is discussed at The Eugenics Problem and elsewhere. In the first sense, Eugenics is just a tool, and like a gun, is amoral. I will therefore refer to this first sense as “genetic engineering”. In the second sense, Eugenics in the hands of government or other elites is immoral, because it replaces individual choice with collective choice.” As we see from different definitions, there are both positive and negative eugenics that considered moral and immoral at the same time.
Positive and negative eugenics have their own purposes and let’s look at them in this paragraph. For example, the purpose of positive eugenics – is promoting the reproduction of people with symptoms that are considered as valuable to society (the absence of hereditary diseases, good physical development, sometimes – high intelligence). At the same time the purpose of negative eugenics – is termination reproduction of persons with hereditary defects, or those in the community feel physically or mentally disabled.
All human beings are imperfect. At the early age it can be seen – some children are endowed with health, but the nature “rested” on intelligence, others cannot boast of physical beauty and strength, but are ahead of their peers in mental development, and others – did well in school and in the sports section, but the character is not good. Moreover, such combinations are numerous. This pattern is reflected even in the proverbs and sayings. There are many fairy-tales about a foolish beauty and intelligent plain girls. So when a person is found, combining the beauty and strength, intelligence and morality – it seems like a miracle of nature. In others, such people cause different feelings – one delight with them, others hate them and feel envy to such people. But scientists have already long ago began to reflect on how, and due what reasons such people born, why it happens so rare that fully talented people born. And could they make them into human society more and more? For instance, eugenicists proceed from the fact that our moral obligations apply to all future generations, and that children are not their parents property. In most cases parents did not think much about their biological responsibility to the child and own offspring.
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