The Presentations on Eugenics gave the pros of treating chromosomal diseases and the cons of "treating" looks, intelligence, or any gene that is not life-threatening, which encompasses the general opinion on eugenics.
The class then had an interesting discussion on if we should eliminate sickle cell anemia, as having 1 recessive hbb gene would give the individual the ability to fight off malaria and allow the blood to clot. This reasoning could be applied to many disorders, including Autism, which may help the individual to study a subject obsessively to make a discovery. Furthermore, Stephen Hawking, who suffered a physical disability that gave him more time to think, was invaluable to the field of aerospace engineering, astronomy, and the discovering of black holes, event horizons, etc. It clearly depends on the individual, Einstein, who was Autistic, and Stephen Hawking, who as immobile, both had the drive to learn about and contribute to the fields through their own research and experimentation.
That point excludes those who has a severe mental disorder, which may not be able to contribute much to a STEM field, instead, they may reach out to their communities and educate others on their life, however, in the case of a society practicing extreme eugenics, their contribution would be meaningless because they wouldn't exist.
So should physically disabled people, or people with pre-dispositions to mental disorders that do not affect intelligence, such as Autism, ADHD, OCD, etc, be treated differently than severe mental disorders, such as Down Syndrome, or disorders that are likely to kill quickly, such as Duchene's Musclar Distrophy and Cystic Fibrosis, because those who do not die quickly and are able to live with unaffected intelligence can contribute more to society?
If every individual contributes to society, what contributions are considered superior? What about a genetically superior individual who is a minor, and simply goes to school? Does he contribute to his community simply by being educated? Building friendships?
More importantly, is the value of an individuals life based on their contribution to society?
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