One hundred years ago on March 9, Indiana passed the world’s first forced sterilization law. Two years later, Washington State enacted a similar measure. Both laws were part of a crusade to breed better humans known as “eugenics.” Promoted by evolutionary biologists in the name of Darwinian natural selection, eugenics led to the sterilization of tens of thousands of Americans against their will, many of whom would not be considered mentally handicapped today. Why did America’s leading scientists and scientific organizations embrace eugenics for so long? Was eugenics a logical application of Darwin’s theory, or a terrible misuse of it? What are the lessons we can learn from eugenics for today’s controversies over science and public policy? In this free public lecture on Monday, April 16, Dr. John West will explore these questions and more. The lecture will take place at 8:00 pm in Demaray Hall 150 at Seattle Pacific University.
When: Monday, April 16, 2007, 8:00 pm
Where: Seattle Pacific University, Demaray Hall 150