POL101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: The Historical Journal, Michael Freeden, Leonard Darwin
Galton: the study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial
qualities of future generations either physically or mentally
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Relationship between nature and hereditary
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Sidney Webb: survival of the fittest does not ensure the best - need to manipulate the
environment to produce desired ends
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Eugenics calls for social reform
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Social justice is self-defeating because multiplies least members
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Lindsay: Nietzschean superman is impossible: genius is not under scientific control
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Leonard Darwin: improve entire population, not part of it
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Not necessarily creation of super-race
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Carr-Saunders: overall improvement of less worthy
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Improvement of genetic characteristics
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Many wanted to equalize environment
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Eugenics wanted unequal society in which fitness of individual could be measured as basis for
organization
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Socialism produces inefficient members of society
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Social mobility: best rise
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Progressive social mobility: controlled by society with non-biological criteria
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Issue: need equal conditions to find best --> against progress
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Can't be determined by class: poor are stronger because forced to be?
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Eugenics is socialistic --> seeks common good of all
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Government has a duty to become involved, regulate
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Community as a whole is responsible for child
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Reason and planning - concern for the future
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Relies on socialistic policy to achieve ends
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Eugenics reliance on nature
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Eugenics 'utopia' - seen as achievable
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Problems : birth control more likely to be adopted by higher classes --> defeats
purpose
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Ellis: birth control will reduce children with least desirable qualities
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Environmentalists improved living conditions among poor in effort to decrease births
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Make parenting easier, assistance - 'family allowance'
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Endowment of motherhood
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Unfair for a child to be naturally weak
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Brewer: mass could rise to stage of one
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Eugenics received respect
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Michael Freeden. “Eugenics and progressive thought: a study in ideological affinity.” The Historical
Journal 22.3 (1979): 645-671.
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Sexual sterilization
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Reduce burden on taxpayers for assistance to needy
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Not led by religion / morality, but science
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Act was passed in 1928, lasted 44 years
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Targeted mentally ill
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Board approved 99% of subjects, Board never replaced members
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Originally focused on eliminating defect, later focus on preventing inept parenting
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Focus of efficiency - getting through as many as possible
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Use of IQ tests to determine
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Often worked outside of the Acct to be more efficient
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Why they never questioned morality?
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Members of bureaucracy too focused on work?
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Asked to have procedure undone
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Some people protested --> Board found a way around
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Jana Marie Grekul, "A Well-Oiled Machine: Alberta's Eugenics Program, 1928-1972", in Alberta
History, vol. 59, no. 3. Summer 2011. pp. 16–23.
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Reading 2.2: Eugenics
January 16, 2017
12:00 PM
READINGS Page 114
Document Summary
Eugenics and progressive thought: a study in ideological affinity. the historical. Galton: the study of agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations either physically or mentally. Sidney webb: survival of the fittest does not ensure the best - need to manipulate the environment to produce desired ends. Social justice is self-defeating because multiplies least members. Lindsay: nietzschean superman is impossible: genius is not under scientific control. Leonard darwin: improve entire population, not part of it. Eugenics wanted unequal society in which fitness of individual could be measured as basis for organization. Progressive social mobility: controlled by society with non-biological criteria. Issue: need equal conditions to find best --> against progress. Eugenics is socialistic --> seeks common good of all. Community as a whole is responsible for child. Government has a duty to become involved, regulate. Reason and planning - concern for the future.
