That a begnign form of eugenics would be beneficial to humanity

I’d like, once again, to state my appreciation for Nur-Ab-Sal and his interest in this debate.The Issues(In order of descending significance with related statistics) As a caveat, I don’t plan on making any argument from statistical analysis, as the interactions between any of the proceeding figures and a eugenics program will be purely conjectural. So rather, these figures are only to emphasize the urgency with which these issues must be addressed. 1. Genetic Disorder/Disease: The issue with the most obvious capacity to benefit from any form of eugenics. (All related statistics here are from U.S. populations). 50% of all diagnoses of mental retardation have a genetic basis. (Emory and Rimoin, 1990) 15% of all cancers have an inherited susceptibility (Schneider, 1994) 10% of chronic diseases in the adult population have a significant genetic component (Weatherall DJ. 1985) 12% of all hospital admissions are for genetic causes (Emery AEH. 1990.) 16% of GDP in ‘07 was spent on health care costs.* 2. Genetic Fitness - Not presently an issue, however, per se, an overall benefit of a eugenics program. No related statisticsMedicalized Eugenics I’d like to state, in the first place, there shouldn't be a great emphasis on delineating the policies of any eugenics program. Pro’s case rests on whether or not a eugenics program will be beneficial, which can easily be demonstrated without going into great detail about logistics. After all, the argument presupposes the proper functioning of said program. Therefore, a few points will be made about a hypothetical eugenics program. Rather, my aim here is to demonstrate that this hypothetical eugenics practice will, in fact, be a medical practice, as revealed by the following precepts: 1. The eugenics program will in no way dictate or designate which of the selected persons are allowed to breed with each other. In this way, natural selection shall be allowed to continue as usual. 2. The eugenics program will not function to increase frequencies of any specific desired allele(s)/gene(s) in the corresponding population. 3. The eugenics program will aim to reduce and/or eliminate the frequency of exceptionally and indisputably harmful genetic material. As a consequence, any person capable of passing any genetic material that could/will lead to any form of extremely debilitating and/or chronic condition(s) or early mortality, to as close as the nth filial generation (Fn), will deem the carrier unfit for breeding. Determination of a carrier will rely on the contemporaneous genetic sequencing techniques and technologies. In effect, this medicalizes eugenics, as it is nothing more than a form of treatment (by prevention) for genetic illnesses. The Benefits 1. Genetic Diseases/Disorders - That this issue will be the most directly affected by the institution of a eugenics program is undeniably true. Theoretically speaking, the degree to which it is affected would be directly proportional to the efficacy of the eugenics program treating this issue. Nonetheless, it is the job of Pro’s case to demonstrate that it is effective, not how effective it is. That the reduction of the propagation of deleterious genetic material is beneficial will, here, be understood prima facie (unless any future contentions about this assertion should arise). I’ll state this differently to emphasize this point; That deleterious genetic material is harmful, and that reducing the frequency of this material is the same as reducing the frequency of harm done, and that reducing the frequency of any harm done is beneficial. Moreover, that these issues relate to the human body and its ills means that the eugenic practice of regulating those ills will be reduced to a medical practice (like a glorified form of genetic counseling: http://en.wikipedia.org...). A benign form of eugenics will seek out the whereabouts of any deleterious genetic material and arrest it’s propagation. In so doing, all affected progeny will benefit from inheriting only those genes which will not result in any unfortunate and debilitating conditions. Moreover, that reproduction is a shared characteristic of the human species (and of all species for that matter), the regulation of human reproduction will, in turn, relate the eugenics program to not just the individual man, but to all of man. Therefore, any benefits of a medicalized eugenics program will be related not just to the individual man, but to all of man: to humanity. Thus, a benign form of eugenics will be beneficial to humanity. 2. Genetic Fitness - As a consequence of reducing the frequency of deleterious genetic material, the average level of genetic fitness of filial generations will increase. “Fitness” itself already describes a favorable state, as being “too fit” , like “not fit enough”, is just a form of being unfit. Moreover, in biological terms, the term “fit” refers to the capacity for an individual organism to survive, therefore, the greater the fitness, the greater the capacity for that individual to survive and reproduce. That those surviving will benefit from their own survival is apparent. Additionally, an organism’s level of genetic fitness doesn’t only refer to it’s ability to survive and reproduce, but rather, the probabilities of success those genes will have during interactions with the environment. For humans, this would be proportional to any form of success he/she could enjoy; forms of social success, personal happiness etc. This is not to say that any form of success is guaranteed, only more likely to occur.Conclusions That humanity can benefit from a fitter gene pool should be easy enough to understand. A non-oppressive and benevolent eugenic practice with strictly medical aims, viz., to remedy genetic ills, has been proposed by the preceding case. And so, in this very fact, it becomes a medical practice. As a corollary, I proffer a new term, removed of any political vinculum; an orthoeugenic practice. Orthoeugenics will, as it might imply, be beneficial to humanity in the same way as the whole of medical disciplines are; orthodontics, orthopedics, paediatrics, etc. In transforming eugenics into a medical practice with medical aims, it does, by that very fact, become beneficial to humanity, as all medical practices are by their very nature designed to help people. Thus,the force of Pro’s case can be demonstrated by the simplification of the statement that a benign form of eugenics, which has been demonstrated to be a medical practice, would be beneficial to humanity. This can then be reduced to: a medical form of eugenics, orthoeugenics, would be beneficial to humanity. The truth of this statement can be verified by comparing it to some similar statement such as: a medical form of bone reparation, orthopedics, would be beneficial to humanity.Citations"Prevalence of Genetic Conditions / Birth Defects." University of Kansas Medical Center. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. .