Theoretically, to produce the happiest and healthiest humans, yes. In practice, NEVER.
Aside from near inevitable genocide of existing races, that would occur with the excuse of “purification”, there would be further discrimination against the “impure” populace. Immediate class division would occur between those who are genetically modified/improved, and those who were conceived naturally, without any scientific intervention.
Companies would only be willing to hire the “improved” humans, and the rest of us will be left to rot in slums.
It would be unrestrained fascism, scientifically endorsed under the guise of “improving humanity”. All calls from the impure and insignificant would be ignored, as they would be perceived as obstructing scientific and humanitarian advancement. I believe it would be amongst the greatest humanitarian catastrophes that could occur.I feel bad that this post is being downvoted, as it is a discussion that needs to occur. Eugenics can be perceived as an advancement to human biology, but when considering human behavior, it would be a rebirth of fascism.
That being said, I would support doctors advising those with genetically linked, debilitating illnesses, not to reproduce. Keyword though, advisement, not mandate.
While eugenics might sound good on paper, they might not work that well in practice. Also on paper it is said that these genetic differences that often show up as disabilities are a natural barrier against super plagues that might wipe us all out in one go.
Fine tuning ourselves into more perfect, single characteristic beings would actually make us far more vulnerable to extinction.
It depends… Are we speaking about keeping only tall blonde kids? Or aborting a fetus with 95% Down syndrome? Angelman’s? Some other even worse? Stopping a possibility fatal pregnancy? Where do you put the line?
WTF kind of question is this?
Is it a thing? OK, yeah? A concept of an idea, maybe.
Is it anything approaching moral, ethical or humane? No.
Nooo.
Nope.
Nuh-uh.Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Yeah it’s one of those things that in theory it could make sense, it could be. However since we are humans, there does not exist any way that would not be morally abhorrent to some group of people. There’s zero way that in doing it this way wouldn’t destroy x group of people. And that’s why it can never be done. Eugenics is just too close to genocide.
Yea. It exists and is a terrible idea. Like it’s a creepy ideology that rears its head in too many places.
Selective breeding of humans is not and never was a good idea. It comes with forced sterilisation, marriage bans, stigmatisation of characteristics contributing to naturally occuring diversity, supremacist thinking and fascist pseudo-scientific tendencies.
Where do you get these questions?
It’s impossible for me listen to someone arguing in favor of eugenics without hearing, “we’ve gotta get rid of those people- you know the ones in talking about, right?” Fuck that noise.
It’s always some narcissistic asshole who thinks they’re the prototype for a new master race.
“It’s obvious who those people are. There mentally and physically screwed up.” Ok, like you? “What? No”
I believe that it exists as a concept. That’s what you’re asking, right?
I believe in the right hands that some types of eugenics can do a world of good. I know hitler and japanese did it and it got an ugly label. But what about if we could tell a parent this child will have no diseases his entire life at the stage of birth? Kind of like Gataca
Until some folks can’t afford to cleanse their genes and are denied the right to have children for “safety reasons” and suddenly, fertility and genetics are under state control.
Assuming your honesty and good faith on asking this question, the real treasure on our genes is it’s diversity. Eugenics would, by definition, reduce it. You could assume that it’s a low price to pay for health, longevity, strength, intelligence, beauty and so on, but it’s not that simple. Even some diseases (out the possibility to it) can be beneficial under the right circonstances, like sickle cell anemia can improve resistance to malaria.
It would be great to be able to prevent most diseases before it happens and treat it if it happens (for free, in a universal health care system), but eliminate the genes would be a very bad idea, a healthy specie needs it’s diversity to avoid extinction, and we sometimes feel like we are above that risk, but we are not that special.
All other concerns aside, I think if we start controlling genes we’ll end up writing our genes into a corner.
I just think of south Korean beauty standards and how I have a hard time differentiating all the kpop artists due to the homogeneous beauty standard being universally applied.
Eugenics at face value, lol.
We have entire communities for unpopular opinions and shitposting, yet you chose to post here on ML?
No. Read dystopian novels like Brave New World and you’ll understand why.
Or maybe just a german history book
No but I’m all-in on phrenology
Eugenics is mostly associated with selective breeding so that’s a no in that regard. I do think modifying our children genetically will become more common place and will be an important part of future off earth colonies.
Used to be a bigger fan, but for the same reason I became more libertarian I’m not so sure it’s a practical philosophy. The biggest issue is that as soon as someone decides what is or isn’t good genetics you get a lot of bias. The majority of the human experience is social anyways.
Don’t approve, because we can’t study it without injecting adjectives or racism,
It’s raising it’s ugly head again because AI is finding new “correlations”.
