The principle has been already laid down that the best of either sex should be united with the best as often, and the inferior with the inferior as seldom as possible; and that they should rear the offspring of the one sort of union, but not of the other, if the flock is to be maintained in first-rate condition. (Plato's Republic)

Science vs. Pseudoscience

• What is Science? How do we define it?

• What is pseudoscience?

• How does pseudoscience manifest as the scientific process?

Basics of Evolution

• Working Definition? – Change through time– Really: Change in allele frequencies in pop/time through a

variety of mechanisms

• Genetic traits passed down-heritability.

• Survival of the fittest? – Define fitness…

“Evolution of Man”

An illustration in Indigenous Races of the Earth

Josiah Clark Knott-Physician

Polygenic Species formation-human evolution from different beginnings…

Darwin rejected this theory…

Eugenics…good genes

Eugenics is the intersection of science and social policy. It is theidea or philosophy that there is a superior/inferior genetic makeup of the population anda desire to improve that genetic makeup.

Think ARTIFICAL SELECTION!-Some traits are desirable while other traits aren’t. -Get rid of undesirable traits-Evolution-by artificial selection?

Which traits are undesirable?Who determines whats undesirable?

the “harmonious” eugenics tree

Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911)

Father of eugenics-half cousin of Darwin

Psychologist by trade

His idea was that humans “evade” natural selection

Social policy needs to be in place to prevent"reversion towards mediocrity”

Genius and talent heritable-infatuated with heritability of “Greatness”

Eugenics to Galton“the science which deals with all influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race; also with those that develop them to the utmost advantage.”

No proposed methods to implement eugenics programs…

Henry Goddard (1866-1957)

• Psychologist

• Eugenicist

• Intelligence Testing

the Kallikak family

• Study of “feeble-mindedness”– Through genealogical lineage

• Traits of mental retardation as hereditary– Check on the ‘feeble minded’

• Data nonexistent. Assistants collected datanot data, really…

Goddard cont.

• Recognized his study and opinions “highly flawed”– Though menial labor for ‘feeble minded’??!??

• Helped write first special education law-public schools

• Advocate for ‘subnormal intelligent’ criminals; limit sentencing times…

•Single individual influencing a “line” or family.

•Evidence of hereditary basisof mental illness

•Societal intervention?

•Goddard-Keep them in check

“Normal” Line “Degenerate” Line

Propaganda from Nazi Germany’s compulsory euthanasia program.

Copy reads:"This person suffering from hereditary defects costs the community 60,000 Reichsmark during his lifetime. Fellow German, that is your money, too.“

Credential measurements taken to prove “Aryan” racial qualities.

Eugenics in America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaH0Ws8RtSc

• Do you think that the government should ever have the right to sterilize citizens?– …mentally insane?– …criminals?– …repeated sex offenders?

• What about genetic counseling? “Designer babies”?

• Where does this fit into eugenics?– Positive vs. Negative Eugenics-should there be a

distinction?