Eugenic Sterilization and the Role of Science—The Scandinavian Case

Abstract

The practical impact of biological science on human life is growing quickly. At the same time the status and authority of science appears to be slipping in academic as well as general culture. But if we neglect scientific insight as a guide, how are we to control this development? Eugenics has received much attention as an expression of the dark sides of twentieth-century modernism. In this section I take a critical look at the role of science, in particular the science of genetics, in the rise and demise of this movement. I use the terms “eugenics” primarily to refer to policies and practices that aim to improve the genetic heritage (gene pool) of a population.