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Here's alittle something I wrote on this topic last year.
Eugenics
[why people are against it]
Frightens People
Through extensive research on the internet, it is very apparent that many people are freighted by the thought of Eugenics being openly accepted, practiced, and fully implemented into society. Moral and ethical dilemmas arise, as always, after being presented with such a controversial, human wide concept that would drastically effect the state of the human race in the following years. People could have fears of what eugenics may lead to in the future, and what it could be used for in the wrong hands. Such as developing people as born soldiers, a theme present in many movies. This could also open doors to cloning, and the duplication of individuals. All these things are unfamiliar to the common individual, and would create distress because of how the media has portrayed these scientific advances.
Religion Prohibits it
Is it our right to decide how humans should be born? With what characteristics, what intelligence, what physical health, and endless more options? Many people believe that we were created this way for a reason, and that we should maintain reproduction without intervention of genetic alterations. Many religions believe that how we act on earth may decide where our afterlife may take us. If we were born without fault, we would be cheating ourselves into being a good person. Life would no longer act as a test to determine your final whereabouts. Who knows what kind of implications this may have? It is also against many religions to intervene with nature’s course. They believe that we are interfering with something that should be left alone. Natural selection would eventually deal with any unwanted characteristics anyways.
Unseen Consequences
The alteration of genes has been developed through the use of animal testing. Though some testing has been done on humans, and it seems possible that we can use eugenics to its full extent, there may be some implications that arise unexpectedly. Dealing with the genetics of humans always has risks. We could in turn create new genetic problems with our interference. These consequences may pose a greater risk than continuing with our lives without the use of eugenics. It could also start an unseen upheaval between states, counties, but in particular, races. Some eugenicists believe that some races are superior than others, and this could cause major friction when determining who can reproduce, and who can’t. This is one extremely sensitive issue, that is hard to deal with without causing upset.
Establishing World Wide Regulations
Currently many countries have set up policies regarding the use of eugenics. Some of these countries include Germany, South Africa, Romania, Albania, and China. There are also countries where eugenics is accepted, such as Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Some doctors in these countries even provide eugenic services for a large sum of money. It would be very hard, if not impossible, to regulate the use of eugenics world wide. Without regulated use, a distinction would arise between the offspring of people from countries allowing, and not allowing eugenics. This could bring about much conflict and trouble. Eugenics’ goal is aimed to evolve the human race to a higher state, this would be extremely difficult if all the countries in the world did not support it. And without world wide support, eugenics won’t be able to reach this goal.
Don’t want to interfere with Nature
Many people don’t want to interfere with the course of nature, as you can presently see that many people are even protesting biologically altered food produce. They would prefer to live life the natural way, despite any positive results eugenics may potentially posses. This gives people a greater sense of security, and leaves the major ethical questions out.
Could possibly lead to the lack of diversity
People would share more common aspects, including mental capacity and physical characteristics. All new born individuals would posses good characteristics, and good appearances, because that is what most parents would desire in their offspring. Once this happens, we would see a lot less variety between different kinds of people. It’s like the example, where could we find beauty if there is no ugliness? Perhaps the human race isn’t supposed to be perfect, for if it was, there would be too much conformity.
Lack of struggle due to commonality
If everyone was equal in their mental abilities, we would loose the struggle that we depend upon for our own advancement. The challenge of being up against competitors would loose it’s appeal, as they would share the same potential. This would make people stop trying to be superior, because it would be inevitable. In the end, everyone is created equally well with the use of eugenics.
Would remove positions for lower class jobs
Everyone depends on each other in society. We need geniuses, who create the latest technological advancements and inventions, just as much as we need the average individual working at a fast food restaurant. Once people share the same high IQ level, and same will to be good, well achieving people (which most parents would want in their children), we loose the entire low-intelligence portion of society. I am sure that nobody with the will and ability to take a well paying job, doing highly intellectual work, would want to take a job paying only minimum wage. Most of these low paying jobs we depend on, and without them society could not function.
Not everyone would be able to afford it
The cost for genetically modifying cells would be pretty expensive. Even with time, as the cost goes down, there would be a lot of people in third world countries, and even hear in North America, who wouldn’t be able to afford it. Unless the government would cover it, which is highly doubtful here, let alone third world countries, it would only be available for some of the population. This would not work as an effective means to evolve the human race, and a large gap would form between children who were born with the use of eugenics, and those who weren’t. This would just be impractical.
Not everyone would want to use it
There would be a large amount of people who would be morally opposed to using eugenics, and would refuse to participate. Forcing everyone to do it would be very unlikely, as it would go against our modern day principles. Even if it was enforced, people would manage to get away with avoiding it, such as people living in very secluded areas. In order for eugenics to be truly successful, it would require the willing participation of everyone planning to have children. Across different nations, with different nationalities, different religions, and different views on life, it would be physically impossible for everyone to agree with it.
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