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tl;dr- We were trying to breed humans like we breed show dogs. Focusing on meaningless, racist cosmetic features. That's why eugenics has the horrible reputation it has. As a species, we need to breed smarter, happier, healthier people.
Eugenics itself isn't inherently racist, it's just been misused by racists. What we need is to select for stuff like reduced chance at heart disease, congenital illnesses like sickle cell anemia, various forms of specific cancer that are deeply tied to genetics, etc.
Whatever the skin color/eye color/hair type would ultimately optimally be is irrelevant. (Though I will say this, I doubt the typical white person's skin is optimal. Given modern agriculture, and that vitamin D deficiency isn't a constant issue anymore, even to most people in poorly developed nations, I suspect dark skinned people's resistance to UV induced skin cancer would be the natural, intelligent choice to make someone's skin color. But then again, maybe not, because it is very easy to identify medical problems on white people compared to black people because the melanin literally gets in the way of seeing the flesh underneath. There's SO much to consider in picking the best shade of skin. I'm almost certain it's not pale white though.)
Now, how do we enforce or even decide on the eugenics? Ummmmm that's a really hard question that would require an answer way longer than this, and would boil down to, "I don't know but I think someone might". Eugenics inherently has a lot of... possibility of going wrong (hence it has, like every time). But I think it's possible to live in a society where people are more encouraged to use healthier genetic combos for their kids than just using whatever genes that happen to naturally be in themselves.
People don't seem to understand that eugenics can be used without being forced onto anybody. I don't see anything wrong with it, up until it puts the human species's survival in jeopardy due to the lack of genetic variation.
What distinguishes eugenics and natural selection?
Whereas Natural selection ‘is a mechanism of evolution. Organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success. This process causes species to change and diverge over time.’
It is without a doubt that Eugenics is seen as negative because of how it has been used in the past. However, can we really say this is unfair when it is human conceptions of what is desirable that is key to its practice?
I agree, but only because the phrase doesn’t give specific example. Whether or not you agree with it, eugenics are present in any procreative relationship. Biologically, we seek out partners who will further our bloodline, indicate a high chance of survival, and strengthen our genetics. That’s breeding the human species for traits.
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