Genetics, Law, and Social Policy: Eugenics

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on genetics, law, and social policy, focusing on eugenics and its historical and contemporary manifestations.

Eugenics

Scientifically inaccurate, immoral, and pseudoscientific theory that suggests humans can be improved through selective breeding of populations.

Madison Grant

A pseudoscientist and eugenicist who published 'The Passing of the Great Race' in 1916, promoting ideas of racial hierarchy and Nordic superiority.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Adolf Hitler, influenced by Madison Grant's ideas, which fueled a hateful, nationalist ideology in Germany.

Holocaust

The most prominent example of genocide, resulting from Nazi ideology and the systematic targeting, torture, and murder of minority groups.

Neo-Nazism

A far-right ideology that revives Nazi beliefs, including white supremacy and anti-miscegenation.

Dog Whistles

Coded language or symbols used by Neo-Nazis to signal their views without drawing mainstream attention.

14 Words

A white supremacist slogan coined by David Lane: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”

Jim Crow Laws

Laws in the American South that enforced racial segregation and discouraged miscegenation, primarily targeting Black people.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Supreme Court decision that declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional.

Positive Eugenics

Aims at increasing desirable traits such as artistic talent, leadership qualities, and high intelligence.

Negative Eugenics

Aims at decreasing undesirable traits such as physical or intellectual disabilities, infertility, and mental illness.

Stakeholders in Eugenics

Everyone who is not a racial or developmental majority, easily identifiable by a targeted marginalized community.

Bioethical Principal

Having Respect for Persons; being different is not something to be targeted for.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

Regulating it prevents “designer babies” and widens genetic inequality.

Elon Musk

Owner of Twitter (now X), has set a troubling precedent for online discourse through his public language choices, including the use of the 'R-slur'.