Class Notes 9.24.13- Eugenics

One of the major questions raised by the experiments conducted in Nazi Germany was whether the data collected from the experiments/the knowledge gained should be used to further science. Do the ends justify the means?

Eugenics----> society over the individual. Artificial selection to further the human race.

Is it ethical to modify embryos, sterilize people, or do other things in order to help the human race evolve faster?

Positive vs. Negative Eugenics----> improving the human race by altering humans for the better vs. eliminating the things that make us a weaker species.

The problem with Eugenics is that it focuses entirely on society and not on the individual.

If the technology exists, should we use it? What criteria should we use to evaluate whether or not we will use the technology?