Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Enemy of Eugenics 

The United Kingdom was one of the few major countries where eugenics was not effectively put into law. Yet people should not feel smug that it did not happen in Britain – because it nearly did. The United Kingdom escaped eugenics laws by the skin of its teeth, as they were backed by some of the most powerful people in the land. As far as can be seen, only one public figure waged a vigorous, and ultimately successful, campaign against the proposed Mental Deficiency Bill in 1912. That man was G. K. Chesterton. The battle against eugenics is Chesterton's great, unknown victory.

2 comments:

  1. Cool I did not know that!
    do you know of an example of a law that would have introduced Eugenics into society? Just an example if you have one.

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  2. I'm not familiar with the details, though the link gives a general overview.

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