Can ‘eugenics’ be defended?

Abstract

In recent years, bioethical discourse around the topic of ‘genetic enhancement’ has become increasingly politicized. We fear there is too much focus on the semantic question of whether we should call particular practices and emerging bio-technologies such as CRISPR ‘eugenics’, rather than the more important question of how we should view them from the perspective of ethics and policy. Here, we address the question of whether ‘eugenics’ can be defended and how proponents and critics of enhancement should engage with each other.

Convergence and Shared Reflective Equilibrium

“…Suppose, however, someone were to argue that eugenics can maximize wellbeing (Veit, Anomaly, Agar, Singer, Fleischman, & Minerva 2021). And suppose further that you find this intuitively false.…”

Prenatal genetics: An instrument of eugenics or protecting lives?

“…Not only eugenics always implied re‐thinking the societal structure, but also the members of Eugenics Movement wanted to re‐define the evolution of homo sapiens . [ 5–8 ] Asking the authors of Born Well , may we understand choosing the ‘best’ embryos in assisted reproductive procedures in a way Galton did not? That must be a non‐eugenic way, but is it feasible?…”