Definition of eugenics Eugenics

/juʤɛˈnɪks/ - [yujeniks] - eu•gen•ics

We found 6 definitions of eugenics from 5 different sources.

What does eugenics mean?

WordNet

Noun

Plural: eugenics

eugenics - the study of methods of improving genetic qualities by selective breeding (especially as applied to human mating)

bioscience, life science any of the branches of natural science dealing with the structure and behavior of living organisms

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Wiktionary

eugenics (Noun)
The science of improving stock, whether human or animal.
eugenics (Noun)
A social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary qualities through selective breeding.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

eugenics (n.)
The science of improving stock, whether human or animal.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

eugenics
The study of hereditary improvement of the human race by controlled selective breeding.

Wikipedia

Eugenics is a philosophy. It wants to use knowledge of genetics in order to improve humans. Through this it would be possible to eradicate genetic traits that lead to suffering. People also thought that it would be possible to create humans that are healthier, and perhaps more intelligent. In the past, many different ways were proposed for doing this, and even today eugenics means different things to different people. The idea of eugenics is today very controversial, because in the past it was used in order to justify discrimination and injustice against people who were thought to be genetically "unhealthy".

Francis Galton.

Modern eugenics was first invented in the 1860s by Sir Francis Galton, a British scientist who was the cousin of Charles Darwin. Galton believed that intelligence and talent were hereditary and were passed from parent to their children. Based on this, he thought that people could be bred to be smarter, just like animals were bred to be larger or smaller. Galton thought the best way to do this in his day was first to learn more about heredity, and also to tell people that they should only marry people who were smart and strong. Galton chose the name "Eugenics" because it was very similar to the Greek word for "well born".

Galton developed the idea of eugenics further throughout his life. He considered eugenics to be like a modern, scientific religion. He determined that there could be two types of eugenics. The first type would try to increase the number of