Andrew Ban
Seoul International School
Abstract
This paper explores the global rise and ethical consequences of the eugenics movement, examining how scientific efforts to improve genetic traits crossed moral boundaries and redefined societal “frontiers.” Beginning with Francis Galton’s ideas influenced by Darwinian theory, eugenics gained traction in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States and Nazi Germany. The paper further examines how forced sterilization, racial policies, and genocidal programs were used as means of achieving genetic purity, paying special attention to religious resistance, in this case, Pope Pius XI and the Catholic Church. Presenting case studies such as the California sterilization laws and Nazi medical experiments to help support and explore in-depth of how eugenics encouraged and redefined the ethical boundaries of science, law, and human rights. The paper demonstrates how the ideal of a perfect society has led to irreversible crimes against human rights and can be regarded as a permanent reminder of the threats posed by ideology over ethics.
