This blog post examines the history of eugenics and its modern variations, exploring how genetic selection can threaten human dignity and equality.
In the United States today, many people are concerned about racial discrimination stemming from white supremacy, and incidents of brutal attacks against Black individuals are indeed occurring. This situation must be addressed with greater seriousness, as it transcends mere individual issues and is rooted in societal structures and historical contexts. Racism is an act that justifies deeming specific races inferior and infringing upon their rights, posing a challenge to equality and justice in human society. Historically, the immense tragedies such racism has caused have been proven through countless repeated instances.
The most iconic example of racial discrimination is the Nazi genocide of the Jews. The Nazis ruthlessly exterminated Jews to create a superior Germanic race. Such atrocities did not stem solely from racial hatred but resulted from the convergence of flawed ideologies, supporting doctrines, and a societal atmosphere. Underpinning these Nazi atrocities was the discipline of eugenics.
Eugenics, first established as a discipline by the British scientist Francis Galton in 1883, is a field of study advocating that humans should intervene in evolution to improve the species. Galton argued that humans bear responsibility for their own evolution, advocating for increasing beneficial classes within the human species while reducing harmful ones. To this end, all conditions and factors contributing to the occurrence of physical or mental defects became central to research. This ideology gained widespread acceptance at a time when scientific knowledge was limited, and it was even perceived as having progressive and humanitarian goals.
As eugenics gained popularity, eugenic policies were implemented in countries like the United States and Germany. Particularly in the United States, the influx of numerous immigrants in the early 20th century heightened racial tensions and social unrest. In this context, eugenics was misused as a tool to exclude or suppress specific races or classes. The Nazis in Germany pushed these ideas to even more extreme lengths, leading to the tragic outcomes of ethnic cleansing and mass genocide. However, societal backlash was fierce, and as genetics advanced, the lack of scientific basis for eugenics became apparent, leading to its gradual decline. Yet its influence did not fade easily.
In modern times, eugenics has regained attention for purposes such as treating individual genetic disorders or enhancing specific traits. Whereas in the past, parents who carried certain genes were the targets of selection, today the focus has shifted to the unborn children themselves. Consequently, parents now voluntarily decide on procedures like abortion or gene therapy. While the concept of eugenics has been transformed into a more sophisticated form in this process, its fundamental problems persist.
This renewed popularization of eugenics has brought forth new ethical dilemmas. Specifically, the ability to terminate a fetus through prenatal testing raises concerns about the devaluation of life. This ethical dilemma transcends mere individual choice, posing a critical question about how society as a whole views life and human dignity. We must carefully consider the long-term social and ethical impacts of using such technology.
I oppose this stance in the debate. My primary reason is that a fetus, though not yet born, is a living being. Therefore, terminating a pregnancy solely because of genetic abnormalities is tantamount to murder. Creating new life as parents is a blessing in itself and a matter that should be treated with utmost care. Killing a fetus solely due to human selfishness is never desirable. Furthermore, I believe it is unfair that while the fetus has no right to choose its parents, parents are granted the right to choose their child. This raises fundamental questions about human dignity and the value of life.
Moreover, if this practice becomes widespread, it could foster genetic elitism. This could lead to discrimination based on new criteria like appearance or intelligence, potentially causing severe social division. It could even lead to discrimination against genetic diseases that only manifest in old age, meaning people living normal lives could face discrimination simply because they carry genes for such diseases. This would paradoxically create new forms of discrimination in a society striving to eliminate it. We need more thorough social and ethical scrutiny to prevent these problems.
Those who support these eugenics-based technologies argue they are necessary for human progress. They claim that by preserving only good genes and eliminating undesirable ones, we can create a superior species, akin to Darwin’s natural selection, and thus see no issue. They also argue that having a child with disabilities places a significant financial and emotional burden on parents, so parents should be given the right to choose their child. While this argument may seem rational on the surface, it hides a very dangerous ethical trap.
If such rights are granted, then from the perspective that a fetus is a living being, the rights of the fetus must also be protected. Furthermore, rather than seeking solutions to the difficulties faced by parents of disabled children by eliminating disabled people, the state should instead focus on improving welfare policies for the disabled and fostering changes in public perception. This is a crucial task for upholding the fundamental ethics of protecting the socially vulnerable and ensuring all humans are respected as beings with dignity.
Eugenics, when first conceived, had the intention and goal of advancing humanity, and in this sense, it can be viewed positively. However, its implementation process gave rise to numerous human rights issues, and these problems persist today in new forms. While technological advancement can bring many benefits to humanity, maintaining human dignity throughout this process is paramount. We must strive to build a better future by advancing technology while bearing ethical and social responsibility.
