dehumanization in theory
Grant Muner
Block E
Morality 1
De-Humanization In Theory:
Social Darwinism and Eugenics Eugenics and social Darwinism was the driving ideology behind the holocaust. Eugenics, meaning “good birth”, was the study of how to improve the genetic quality of the human race. Although this may not sound very menacing, eugenics was the scientific basis of how Hitler carried out his ethnic cleansing of millions of people. Charles Darwins’ cousin theorized that, if talented people only married other talented people, the result would be measurably better offspring. By the turn of the 19th century, Galton’s (Darwins’ cousin) ideas were imported to the United States. As the start of the 20th century began, influential people were pouring money into labs and research centers in California that would study efficient ways of wiping out whole races, such as sterilization, lethal chambers, and poisoning food. This wave of new science occurring in America was quickly implemented in Germany through the help of scientists in America publishing books idealizing sterilization. During the 20’s the Carnegie institution worked closely with German fascist eugenicists to further develop ways of eradication. As human rights activists and catholics in America banded together against the sterilization of people in California, eugenics began to become policy in Germany.
When Hitler came to power in 1933, he charged the medical profession with the task of implementing a national program in race hygiene. The first key element was the enactment, in 1934, of a law permitting involuntary sterilization of feebleminded, mentally ill, epileptics, and alcoholics. ERO Superintendent Harry Laughlin's model sterilization law was closely modeled, and his contributions to race hygiene were recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Heidelberg. The "marriage laws" of 1935 prohibited unions between "Aryans" and Jews, as well the eugenically unfit.
They thought of German society as a
Block E
Morality 1
De-Humanization In Theory:
Social Darwinism and Eugenics Eugenics and social Darwinism was the driving ideology behind the holocaust. Eugenics, meaning “good birth”, was the study of how to improve the genetic quality of the human race. Although this may not sound very menacing, eugenics was the scientific basis of how Hitler carried out his ethnic cleansing of millions of people. Charles Darwins’ cousin theorized that, if talented people only married other talented people, the result would be measurably better offspring. By the turn of the 19th century, Galton’s (Darwins’ cousin) ideas were imported to the United States. As the start of the 20th century began, influential people were pouring money into labs and research centers in California that would study efficient ways of wiping out whole races, such as sterilization, lethal chambers, and poisoning food. This wave of new science occurring in America was quickly implemented in Germany through the help of scientists in America publishing books idealizing sterilization. During the 20’s the Carnegie institution worked closely with German fascist eugenicists to further develop ways of eradication. As human rights activists and catholics in America banded together against the sterilization of people in California, eugenics began to become policy in Germany.
When Hitler came to power in 1933, he charged the medical profession with the task of implementing a national program in race hygiene. The first key element was the enactment, in 1934, of a law permitting involuntary sterilization of feebleminded, mentally ill, epileptics, and alcoholics. ERO Superintendent Harry Laughlin's model sterilization law was closely modeled, and his contributions to race hygiene were recognized with an honorary degree from the University of Heidelberg. The "marriage laws" of 1935 prohibited unions between "Aryans" and Jews, as well the eugenically unfit.
They thought of German society as a