Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope, and Aims

Galton, F. (1904). Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope, and Aims. American Journal of Sociology, 10(1), 1–6.

Eugenics was defined as the science that deals with all the influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race. In this paper, Galton discusses producing a “highly gifted race of man” by the process of selective breeding, which is referred as positive eugenics. Negative eugenics is discouraging the reproduction of “undesirables”. The meaning of the word eugenics would literally translated be “well-born,” as denoted by the prefix eu.  Galton argues that character depends largely on the proportion between qualities, whose balance may be much influenced by education; thus, in his argument, it is essential to leave moral reasoning out of the discussion. Additionally, Galton argued that the goodness of a character is relative to the current state of civilisation. Say, for example, that all of the animals in a zoo were polled about their thoughts on morality. It would be pointless to debate the contradictions brought up by those who prey and those who are prey. Though an agreement on the finer details of absolute morality cannot be reached, the essentials of eugenics can still be easily defined in this scenario: All creatures would agree that it would be better to be healthy than sick, vigorous than weak, or well-fitted than ill-fitted for the role they play on the planet. The same can be said about men; thus, the aim of eugenics is to represent each class or sect by its best specimens; that done, to leave them to work out their common civilization in their own way.

Galton argued that a list of universally desirable qualities, such as health, energy, ability, manliness, and courteous disposition, could be compiled. Special abilities would be assessed highly by the group or community that possessed them; creativity by artists, fearlessness and sense of inquiry by scientists, etc. The idea being that the representatives of these qualities would be better than those who elected them. Thus, the more of these qualities the get passed on, the better society, the nation, and the human race become.

The aim of eugenics is to bring as many influences as can be reasonably employed, so the useful classes in the community can contribute more then their proportion to the next generation. The procedure would be as follows:

1. Dissemination of a knowledge of the laws of heredity, and promotion of their future study.

2. Historical inquiry into the rates with which the various classes of society (classified according to civic usefulness.) have contributed to the population at various times, in ancient and modern nations. There is strong reason for believing that national rise and decline is closely connected with this influence.

3. Systematic collection of facts showing the circumstances under which large and thriving families have most frequently originated, in other words, the conditions of eugenics. Galton described a "thriving family" as a family where the children have gained distinctly superior positions to those of their classmates in early life. "Large" families are those that contain no less than three adult male children. Galton further suggested that records on race, profession, and residence be kept, in order to study the statistics of eugenics.

4. Influences affecting marriage. Social influences of all kinds have immense power in the end, and they are very various, to ban unsuitable marriages from eugenic point of view. Galton stated that the passion of love appeared so overpowering that it would be foolish to try and direct its course, but that social influences also have an impact on love. Therefore, he posits that banning unions that go against the rules and principles of eugenics would make the practice socially unacceptable, and people wouldn't want to be involved in such marriages.

5. Persistence in setting forth the national importance of eugenics. There are three stages to be passed through: 1) It must be made familiar as an academic question, until its exact importance has been understood and accepted as a fact. 2) It must be recognized as a subject whose practical development deserves serious consideration. 3) It must be introduced into the national conscience, like a new religion.