What are the pros and cons of eugenics?

[MessiahDecoy123]

Some people still defend this concept so what would be the pros and cons?

 

[DarkSentinel]

Do you want the pros first...or the Kahns?

 

[Pink Ranger]

Do you want the pros first...or the Kahns?

Stop posting for the rest of the year. No way you can top that one. Go out on the highest note possible.

 

[DarkSentinel]

You'd all miss me too much in the Wrestling Thread

Now let's talk some eugenics!! t:

 

[Pink Ranger]

It depends what we actually mean by eugenics. Are we talking about the science-y kind, manipulating test tube babies and so forth? Or are we talking about the historical practice of eugenics, which involve forefully segregating and/or sterilizing people with disabilities or anyone else considered less than optimal?

 

[DarkSentinel]

Probably the former. I think as a species we're kinda past segregation.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

It depends what we actually mean by eugenics. Are we talking about the science-y kind, manipulating test tube babies and so forth? Or are we talking about the historical practice of eugenics, which involve forefully segregating and/or sterilizing people with disabilities or anyone else considered less than optimal?

The former since if society were to use eugenics today it would probably be done through genetic engineering.

Sterilization is easy to shoot down since it's so obviously amoral and inhumane.

 

[Warhammer]

Whether you are religious or not, the idea of "playing God" just seems inherently wrong. Things like designer babies are fueled by either pettiness or paranoia. "I want my child to have blond hair and blue eyes" is petty. And if you want a child to not have a seemingly hereditary disorder, said disorder passing on is not a guarantee. That's paranoia. The human genome is so complex and intricate. A true parent will love their child regardless and there are no two ways about that. Life isn't fair. We're all given our predispositions. Deal with it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Whether you are religious or not, the idea of "playing God" just seems inherently wrong. Things like designer babies are fueled by either pettiness or paranoia. "I want my child to have blond hair and blue eyes" is petty. And if you want a child to not have a seemingly hereditary disorder, said disorder passing on is not a guarantee. That's paranoia. The human genome is so complex and intricate. A true parent will love their child regardless and there are no two ways about that. Life isn't fair. We're all given our predispositions. Deal with it.

I'd go further and say people should embrace their predispositions.

They are ingrained in our identity and personal evolution.

Trying to rid our children of all our flaws reminds my of Back to the Future, but instead of Marty McFly trying to match up his parents, he intentionally gets Biff to replace his dad.

He succeeds but vanishes completely in the process.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I wonder though: if men with wealth and power purposely select trophy wives based entirely on their physical beauty, and then they produce good-looking offspring who then inherit that wealth and power, is that an indirect form of eugenics?

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

If human flaws are so bad then why should humans exist at all?

If perfection is the goal then wouldn't we be better off with a race of intelligent machines who are superior artists, lovers, and philosophers?

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I wonder though: if men with wealth and power purposely select trophy wives based entirely on their physical beauty, and then they produce good-looking offspring who then inherit that wealth and power, is that an indirect form of eugenics?

It reminds me of the book Time Machine where the human race split into two.

It's an interesting question you pose though. I suppose it would depend on how strict the criteria would be for mating with the rich and powerful. Do you need a high IQ and movie star looks in most cases or is it based mostly on compatibility?

The wealthy class has existed so long that I'm sure they have discovered which qualities passed down are the most useful and which ones are the most arbitrary/unhelpful.

But who knows how isolated any such criteria would be since all humans basically go for the most beautiful/clever mate?

 

[KevanG]

Do you want the pros first...or the Kahns?

DS you ruined the entire topic for me. Now I can't take it seriously.

Besides I watched the new Star Trek movie two days ago.

 

[DarkSentinel]

And how does it feel, Kev? How does it feel?

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

People have the right to have a child as perfect as I am.

 

[KevanG]

And how does it feel, Kev? How does it feel?

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

Spoiler

 

[Pink Ranger]

People have the right to have a child as perfect as I am.

You don't need eugenics for that. Just swaddle your baby in an Islanders jersey, and buy a house next to powerlines.

 

[SV Fan]

Eugenics is one of those things that is good in theory but many issues can arise in reality

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

How far would a society which can produce designer babies go? Would most children end up tall, super-intelligent, blue eyed, etc?

and what value system would a generation of designer babies have? How would they view their gifts? Would they feel lucky or like circus freaks?

Would they rebel or create higher standards for future eugenics?

 

[KevanG]

I can see the benefit of it in limited amounts, removing potential cancers, heart disease, ect. but going all the way and forcing children to be crafted exactly how the parents wants is disturbing to me. I've always felt there are certain things we can do with science that are fine and good up to a point and we should have the option to go further should the need arise but not willy nilly just because it looks fun.

 

[Thundercrack85]

The former since if society were to use eugenics today it would probably be done through genetic engineering.

Sterilization is easy to shoot down since it's so obviously amoral and inhumane.

Well, there are still different levels. But the most obvious pros are humans being born without serious medical defects. In more extreme cases, you could make humans smarter, stronger, faster, etc. Imagine a society where the average human isn't a moron.

The biggest immediate con would be that this would lead to considerable class division. Genetic modification would only be available to the very wealthy at first. Over time, it would trickle down... but if you think the wealthy have an unfair advantage now, just imagine what kind of an advantage they will have when they are literally better off in every way. They would also lose what little connection they have to the rest of the world.

Some scientists have even said this could lead to humans becoming two separate species down the road. I think that's a bit farfetched, but it could lead to extreme social stratification.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I can see the benefit of it in limited amounts, removing potential cancers, heart disease, ect. but going all the way and forcing children to be crafted exactly how the parents wants is disturbing to me. I've always felt there are certain things we can do with science that are fine and good up to a point and we should have the option to go further should the need arise but not willy nilly just because it looks fun.

It's just too tempting for most parents.

Why stop at disease prevention when your kid could look like Paul Walker and have the brain of Stephen Hawking?

 

[DarkSovereignty]

I see this page has already been curry'd, therefore I have nothing more to add

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think the only bright side is that robotics, and cybernetics will really make any eugenics induced disparity short lived. Provided the robots don't just kill everybody.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I think the only bright side is that robotics, and cybernetics will really make any eugenics induced disparity short lived. Provided the robots don't just kill everybody.

The problem with super-intelligent machines is we can't be sure how their thought-process will develop.

It seems the smarter humans are the more cynical they are. Will that apply to machines 100 fold?