Eugenics

[fvkasm2x]

Figured I would start a very controversial topic, since I just watched a documentary on Hitler. Anyone have opinions about Eugenics? Back in the day, Hitler had those in mental institutions and physically disabled put to death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics

Short explanation for those who don't know the word: The controlling of reproduction in the human race. So for example, making it so that those with a family history of "retardation" and whatnot couldn't reproduce.

Obviously you can't just go kill people, but should we sterilize certain people?

It is common knowledge that the lower classes have more kids than the upper classes. You see more trailer parks with 6 kids per family than you do McMansions with that many kids. Should we be stopping the uneducated from producing more gas station attendants?

Interesting tidbit about Canada:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics#Canada

[skydawg]

more kids means more money from welfare

[WhatThe]

In our era, we no longer need to kill, rather manipulate the genome and eliminate all those nasty defects before birth. Whichraises another set of moral questions. Designer babies no, healthy babies yes IMO.

[katzenjammer]

Fortunately, many traits are controlled by many genes not to mention enviromental factors such that it is virtually imposible to point the finger at one particular gene. One gene might activate another which in turn may turn on some other process etc. The possible combinations are mind boggling.

Besides, who decides which trait is undesirable? Should we get rid of short people? black? the Irish? those addicted to castanet forums?

[sunluvr]

Fortunately, many traits are controlled by many genes not to mention enviromental factors such that it is virtually imposible to point the finger at one particular gene. One gene might activate another which in turn may turn on some other process etc. The possible combinations are mind boggling.

Besides, who decides which trait is undesirable? Should we get rid of short people? black? the Irish? those addicted to castanet forums?

That would be a good start.

[fvkasm2x]

Besides, who decides which trait is undesirable? Should we get rid of short people? black? the Irish? those addicted to castanet forums?

Ultimately it comes down to the government YIKES!

Just 50 years ago in Canada, it was entirely possible that you could be sterilized.

As for designer babies, it kind of sounds like the movie Gattaca, where they could tell what your baby will be like while they are fetus. The parents could decide to abort it based on the news. Lots of people would have problems with this, because it isn't "God's Will" and that doesn't even include those against abortion straight up.

That's delving into another topic I suppose... since this one was mostly aimed at the concept of taking a teenaged kid with autism, down syndrome or any other form of "problem" and sterilizing them. Is that cruel? Does it make sense"

[WhatThe]

well for a specific answer to the op. It is dead wrong for the govt, or intervening authority to sterilize or kill challenged people. I diverted because in a very real way this topic is quickly becoming moot. The completion of the human genome project has opened many doors, some of which are being used in medicine today, and this is only the beginning. We have exponentially increased our genetic knowledge over the last ten years alone, and manipulation will be very real very soon. Hell, if you want you can have your pet cloned now as we speak. I don't want to derail your topic fvkasm, but it does IMO lead to genetic manipulation in the lab now, as opposed to breeding/ sterilizing. Intersting topic. For the record, I wouldn't trust any govt to do the right thing when it comes to things like this.

[fvkasm2x]

Understood WHATTHE, but I don't really think it is moot when looking at our society today. Right now in North America there are TENS OF MILLIONS of people aged 13-40 with some sort of "problem."

These are people in prison, people with some sort of mood disorder, mentally challenged, etc... and all of these people could be sterilized in the next few years if there was some sort of law passed. It could be argued that recidivist criminals can't provide a stable family or be a fit parent, so they should be sterilized. People under the poverty line and on gov't assistance should be sterilized so as not to be a drain on the economy. People with mental health issues and/or mental challenges should be sterilized because of the chance their offspring will carry these "diseases."

Even people under the age of 13 with current problems would be sterilized once they hit puberty... as the ability to alter genomes and/or change fetus evolution isn't applicable right now in a full sense.

[JonyDarko]

Should we be stopping the uneducated from producing more gas station attendants?

You sir are an idiot for even typing this.


The problem with eugenics is who makes the decisions. Oh yeah and that whole killing / sterilizing people thing.


Also what is this doing in R&P?

[WhatThe]

ok, I see the broader context in which you are refering. The first thing that comes to mind an approach like that would perhaps diminish us, not only in a moral context but in real terms. Example, savantism, some of the abilities they have are astounding and could very well better us if we understood it. Genetic mutations, some good some bad, have been apart of us for millions of years giving risecto niche adaptations. Even if for the sake of arguement we sterilized/killed those in question, would it stop the problem you are talking about? I would think not, nature has a funny way of overcoming obsticles, and adapting to things we throw at it. Example resistance to penicillin. It seems to me life is not static. Another question becomes where would we draw the line? And how many times will the line be redrawn with successive govts and changing public perception. Perhaps another thing to consider is declining birthrates in the first world, as it is now we have to allow in immigrants to sustain our economy. What happens when therest of the world catches up to us in standard of living? Maybe it would be better to kill criminals, but for me, I can't get past the ethical and moral implications. My belief is we are stronger and better as a species when we lookafter those that can't themselves.

[quietlywatching84]

Good idea, this is a great topic to do discuss morality (a classic philiosphical subject).

I would argue, is evolution not a form of eugenics in itself?

Think about it this way, all of us, who are alive today are at the moment, a winning evolutionary combination. The proof being that we were born.

If nature has decided that say deaf people, manic depressives are at the moment a good mix, who are we to judge? Is it possible, they have an advantage that maybe we don't which is allowing them to reproduce successfully?

[hellomynameis]

Good idea, this is a great topic to do discuss morality (a classic philiosphical subject).

I would argue, is evolution not a form of eugenics in itself?

Think about it this way, all of us, who are alive today are at the moment, a winning evolutionary combination. The proof being that we were born.

If nature has decided that say deaf people, manic depressives are at the moment a good mix, who are we to judge? Is it possible, they have an advantage that maybe we don't which is allowing them to reproduce successfully?

Quite right, even sociopaths have an evolutionary niche that is currently expanding. Of course evolution under its conventional form cannot be subject to morality whereas eugenics absolutely must be.

[fvkasm2x]

Should we be stopping the uneducated from producing more gas station attendants?

You sir are an idiot for even typing this.


The problem with eugenics is who makes the decisions. Oh yeah and that whole killing / sterilizing people thing.


Also what is this doing in R&P?

Ahh resorting to insults when people try to discuss something in a civil manner. Do you work at a gas station by chance? There is a recent article in Maclean's magazine that gives the stats for education and children in parents. The less education a parent has, the more children they have. The better educated people are, the fewer children they have. I don't have it in front of me, so I can't quote the % but the shoe fits. It was a generalization that is based in fact... no reason to get your panties ruffled.

I haven't once indicated my stance on the position... so I am not sure why you are attacking me for stating a viewpoint of others and/or posing a question.

It is in the R&P area... because it is a moral question, a question that has deep roots in religion and fundamental beliefs.

[fvkasm2x]

If nature has decided that say deaf people, manic depressives are at the moment a good mix, who are we to judge? Is it possible, they have an advantage that maybe we don't which is allowing them to reproduce successfully?

A very good point. But don't we already "play God" in the sense that we have surgeries, medicine, etc... to prolong life? These "weaker" people would have died at a young age naturally, but because of our advances in medicine and technology, we are not allowing nature to take its course. We are already the judges... by saying everyone must live as long as possible, even when it isn't God's will, nature's intent (or what have you).

[westsidebud]

Understood WHATTHE, but I don't really think it is moot when looking at our society today. Right now in North America there are TENS OF MILLIONS of people aged 13-40 with some sort of "problem."

These are people in prison, people with some sort of mood disorder, mentally challenged, etc... and all of these people could be sterilized in the next few years if there was some sort of law passed. It could be argued that recidivist criminals can't provide a stable family or be a fit parent, so they should be sterilized. People under the poverty line and on gov't assistance should be sterilized so as not to be a drain on the economy. People with mental health issues and/or mental challenges should be sterilized because of the chance their offspring will carry these "diseases."

Even people under the age of 13 with current problems would be sterilized once they hit puberty... as the ability to alter genomes and/or change fetus evolution isn't applicable right now in a full sense.

i think your german flag in your avatar speaks volumes