On Human Nature

Eugenics—a word that refers to “good genes”—is the practice of artificially selecting reproductive consequences geared toward a specific outcome. In the field of animal husbandry, this is not particularly controversial: Dogs are bred for particular traits designed to enhance their looks or affability, horses are bred for beauty and speed, and cows are bred for greater muscle density. In the arena of human eugenics, however, the practice has been largely condemned and outlawed, especially in light of the eugenic practices of the Nazi regime of the 1930s and 1940s.

A hypothesis is a well-founded explanation of a particular phenomenon that can be scientifically tested, resulting either in confirmation or disproof. Usually, “it is difficult if not impossible to prove a hypothesis with finality” (218), but the nature of a hypothesis is such that with enough evidence in its favor, it can be accepted as scientific fact unless proven false in the future.

The process of natural selection occurs when one generation passes on specific genetic traits to the subsequent generation due to environmental factors. If a specific trait allows for a greater chance of survival in one generation, then individuals with the trait will naturally reproduce at a higher rate and with greater success—and thus, the trait will have a greater chance at being passed on.