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[[Image:Gtr766.png|right|thumb|300px|Logo of the Second International Congress of Eugenics, 1921.]]

[[Image:Gtr766.png|right|thumb|300px|Logo of the Second International Congress of Eugenics, 1921.]]

'''Eugenics''' was a movement which tried to eliminate "dangerous human pests" and "the rising tide of imbeciles" through what has been euphemistically called "[[selective breeding]]". What this meant, in actual practice, was [[forced sterilization]] of American immigrants and minorities (particularly in California).<ref>Crichton, Michael (2004).  [http://web.archive.org/web/20070315005147/http://www.michaelcrichton.net/fear/index.html "Why politicized science is dangerous"].  Excerpt from ''State of Fear'' (New York: Harper).  Retrieved from March 15, 2007 archive of MichaelCrichton.com at Internet Archive on September 17, 2014.</ref>

'''Eugenics''' was a movement which tried to eliminate "dangerous human pests" and "the rising tide of imbeciles" through what has been euphemistically called "[[selective breeding]]". What this meant, in actual practice, was [[forced sterilization]] of American immigrants and minorities (particularly in California).<ref>Crichton, Michael (2004).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20070315005147/http://www.michaelcrichton.net/fear/index.html "Why politicized science is dangerous"].  Excerpt from ''State of Fear'' (New York: Harper).  Retrieved from March 15, 2007 archive of MichaelCrichton.com at Internet Archive on September 17, 2014.</ref>

==Connection with the theory of evolution==

==Connection with the theory of evolution==

In fact, the term "eugenics" was coined by Darwin's cousin, [[Francis Galton]].<ref>Multiple references:

In fact, the term "eugenics" was coined by Darwin's cousin, [[Francis Galton]].<ref>Multiple references:

*Cavanaugh-O'Keefe (2000).  [http://web.archive.org/web/20120204002402/http://www.eugenics-watch.com/roots/chap02.html "Chapter two: Francis Galton and the Eugenics Society"]. ''Roots of Racism and Abortion: An Exploration of Eugenics.''  Retrieved from February 4, 2012 archive of Eugenics Watch at Internet Archive on September 17, 2014.

*Cavanaugh-O'Keefe (2000).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204002402/http://www.eugenics-watch.com/roots/chap02.html "Chapter two: Francis Galton and the Eugenics Society"]. ''Roots of Racism and Abortion: An Exploration of Eugenics.''  Retrieved from February 4, 2012 archive of Eugenics Watch at Internet Archive on September 17, 2014.

*Francis Galton (1883). [http://eugenics.us/francis-galton-coins-the-word-eugenics-as-the-science-of-better-breeding-men-brutes-and-plants-quote-of-the-day/344.htm ''Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development''] (London: Macmillan and Co., 1883), 24-25."  Retrieved August 11, 2015  from http://www.eugenics.us.</ref>

*Francis Galton (1883). [http://eugenics.us/francis-galton-coins-the-word-eugenics-as-the-science-of-better-breeding-men-brutes-and-plants-quote-of-the-day/344.htm ''Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development''] (London: Macmillan and Co., 1883), 24-25."  Retrieved August 11, 2015  from http://www.eugenics.us.</ref>

The word "eugenics" is based on Greek roots meaning "well born."  The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides 1883 as the date of origin for the term.  Later, [[Leonard Darwin|Darwin's son, Leonard]], served as the president of the First Congress of Eugenics in 1912 in London.

The word "eugenics" is based on Greek roots meaning "well born."  The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides 1883 as the date of origin for the term.  Later, [[Leonard Darwin|Darwin's son, Leonard]], served as the president of the First Congress of Eugenics in 1912 in London.

The encyclopedia describes eugenics as now being "in disrepute,"<ref>Dead link:  //www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/e/e007001431f.html</ref> although Professor [[Peter Singer]] of Princeton University has sought to remove the stigma from it.  Evolutionist and atheist [[Richard Dawkins]] has stated in one letter his wish that it no longer be banned from polite discussion.<ref>Dawkins, Richard (November 19, 2006).  [http://web.archive.org/web/20090113170158/http://www.sundayherald.com/life/people/display.var.1031440.0.eugenics_may_not_be_bad.php "Eugenics may not be bad"].  ''Sunday Herald'' [Scotland].  Retrieved from January 13, 2009 archive at Internet Archive on September 24, 2014.</ref>

The encyclopedia describes eugenics as now being "in disrepute,"<ref>Dead link:  //www.fwkc.com/encyclopedia/low/articles/e/e007001431f.html</ref> although Professor [[Peter Singer]] of Princeton University has sought to remove the stigma from it.  Evolutionist and atheist [[Richard Dawkins]] has stated in one letter his wish that it no longer be banned from polite discussion.<ref>Dawkins, Richard (November 19, 2006).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20090113170158/http://www.sundayherald.com/life/people/display.var.1031440.0.eugenics_may_not_be_bad.php "Eugenics may not be bad"].  ''Sunday Herald'' [Scotland].  Retrieved from January 13, 2009 archive at Internet Archive on September 24, 2014.</ref>

The [[Spartans]] in ancient Greece practiced a primitive form of eugenics, wherein babies which were judged to be too "weak" or "sickly" would be left to die.

The [[Spartans]] in ancient Greece practiced a primitive form of eugenics, wherein babies which were judged to be too "weak" or "sickly" would be left to die.

In the early 1900s, many influential officials advocated Darwinism and eugenics.  Supreme Court Justice [[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.|Oliver Wendell Holmes]] became a strong proponent.  So did many others in prominent government and academic positions.  Members of the British Eugenics Society, including the [[Planned Parenthood|International Planned Parenthood Federation]], are listed.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19970801030506/http://homepages.enterprise.net/eugenics/briteugen/index.html "British Eugenics Society"] (1997).  Eugenics Watch.  Retrieved from August 1, 1997 archive at Internet Archive on September 24, 2014.</ref>

In the early 1900s, many influential officials advocated Darwinism and eugenics.  Supreme Court Justice [[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.|Oliver Wendell Holmes]] became a strong proponent.  So did many others in prominent government and academic positions.  Members of the British Eugenics Society, including the [[Planned Parenthood|International Planned Parenthood Federation]], are listed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19970801030506/http://homepages.enterprise.net/eugenics/briteugen/index.html "British Eugenics Society"] (1997).  Eugenics Watch.  Retrieved from August 1, 1997 archive at Internet Archive on September 24, 2014.</ref>

===Eugenics in America===

===Eugenics in America===

Many [[genocide]]s have been committed in the name of Eugenics, most notably the Holocaust.  [[Adolf Hitler]] was a strong believer in eugenics and evolution and believed that Jewish people were closest to apes, followed by Africans, Asians, non-Aryan Europeans, and finally Aryans, who he believed were most evolved.

Many [[genocide]]s have been committed in the name of Eugenics, most notably the Holocaust.  [[Adolf Hitler]] was a strong believer in eugenics and evolution and believed that Jewish people were closest to apes, followed by Africans, Asians, non-Aryan Europeans, and finally Aryans, who he believed were most evolved.

Pat Milmoe McCarrick and Mary Carrington Coutts, reference librarians for the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature at [[Georgetown University]], were more succinct:  "The Nazi [[racial hygiene]] program began with involuntary sterilizations and ended with genocide." <ref>McCarrick, Pat Milmoe and Coutts, Mary Carrington et al. (June 1995). [http://web.archive.org/web/20041013060122/http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn28.htm "Introduction"].  ''Eugenics'', Scope Note series, no. 28.  Georgetown University/The Joseph and Rose Kennedy Institute of Ethics/National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature website.  Retrieved from October 13, 2004 archive at Internet Archive on September 18, 2014.</ref>

Pat Milmoe McCarrick and Mary Carrington Coutts, reference librarians for the National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature at [[Georgetown University]], were more succinct:  "The Nazi [[racial hygiene]] program began with involuntary sterilizations and ended with genocide." <ref>McCarrick, Pat Milmoe and Coutts, Mary Carrington et al. (June 1995). [https://web.archive.org/web/20041013060122/http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn28.htm "Introduction"].  ''Eugenics'', Scope Note series, no. 28.  Georgetown University/The Joseph and Rose Kennedy Institute of Ethics/National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature website.  Retrieved from October 13, 2004 archive at Internet Archive on September 18, 2014.</ref>

===American scientists and Nazi Germany===

===American scientists and Nazi Germany===

==Liberal eugenics==

==Liberal eugenics==

Some argue that parents who abort infants with genetic mutation or other disabilities are practicing a form of eugenics.<ref>Kristof, Nicholas D. (July 4, 2003).  [http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/07/04/nyt.kristof/index.html "The new eugenics"].  ''The New York Times''.  Reprinted at CNN.com International/U. S. webpage.  Retrieved on September 18, 2014.</ref>  Some doctors and scientists have defended this practice and named it "liberal eugenics" in order to differentiate it from traditional forms of eugenics such as Nazi eugenics.<ref>Hauskeller, Michael (November 2, 2005).  [http://ndpr.nd.edu/review.cfm?id=4541 "Review of ''Liberal Eugenics: In Defence of Human Enhancement''"], Agar, Nicholas (2004, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing).  Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews.  Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref>  Eugenicists in the United States and elsewhere have been known to employ or advocate [[abortion]] as a method of eugenics.

Some argue that parents who abort infants with genetic mutation or other disabilities are practicing a form of eugenics.<ref>Kristof, Nicholas D. (July 4, 2003).  [https://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/07/04/nyt.kristof/index.html "The new eugenics"].  ''The New York Times''.  Reprinted at CNN.com International/U. S. webpage.  Retrieved on September 18, 2014.</ref>  Some doctors and scientists have defended this practice and named it "liberal eugenics" in order to differentiate it from traditional forms of eugenics such as Nazi eugenics.<ref>Hauskeller, Michael (November 2, 2005).  [http://ndpr.nd.edu/review.cfm?id=4541 "Review of ''Liberal Eugenics: In Defence of Human Enhancement''"], Agar, Nicholas (2004, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing).  Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews.  Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref>  Eugenicists in the United States and elsewhere have been known to employ or advocate [[abortion]] as a method of eugenics.

==Eugenics in film==

==Eugenics in film==