Eugenics in the 21st century has acquired a negative connotation due to its association with the atrocities of the Holocaust. Its practices, mainly those of negative eugenics, such as obligatory sterilisations and the Nazi “euthanasia program” (Aktion T-4), are part of humanity’s modern history. Despite the crimes committed a few decades ago, eugenics made its appearance in new forms and theories, in an attempt to disconnect itself from the practices of the Nazi regime. Nevertheless, the main pursuit of modern eugenics remains the improvement of the human species, but without the practices of negative eugenics of the early 20th century and their imposition on humans.
As the boundaries of what can be considered as eugenic are not clear even today, modern forms of eugenics, such as genome editing, are accompanied by many ethical dilemmas. For example, the obligation of prenatal tests, genetic counseling of parents, etc., are techniques presented with the ultimate intention of avoiding a life full of pain for both parents and child, in case the child has a genetic disorder. Medical science, as well as those dealing with bioethical issues, should study the evolution of new genetic mechanisms and biotechnological practices, in order to define clear limits of what is considered permissible in terms of genetic interventions and experimentation on the human genome.
The present thesis attempts to examine the beginnings of eugenics through a historical review, as well as to approach its modern forms with a critical point of view, aiming at a productive discussion and reflection on a quite complex matter.