What do you think about Charles Darwin's idea that most of humanity is biological garbage?

Question

This idea comes out of his book, "The Descent of Man" and is used to justify eugenics.

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/charles_darwin/descent_of_man/

Answer 1

Social Darwinism was not one of Darwin's ideas but was used by others to support various claims including eugenics. Eugenics is NOT a scientific discipline, it's NOT an idea that Darwin favored, and it's NOT a part of evolution.

What modern evolutionary theory and population genetics tells us is that eugenics can NEVER work. Not only does random mutation insure that we will ALWAYS share some "biological garbage" but changing environments insure that the biological garbage of today may become the biological goldmine of tomorrow.

Answer 2

If a person is in favor of Eugenics, they will use whatever they can to justify it, be it a Bible, a philosophical manifesto, or a book from a prominent scientist.

And I don't think Darwin ever called humanity "biological garbage". That seems to be your own interpretation.

Answer 3

It took one to know one I say. I think most of his garbage was unproven and therefore random ramblings of a sick mind.

Answer 4

i was told at uni that a company has actually bought the rights to the parts of humans DNA that is not seeming to be used. Junk DNA its called. This is probably not relevant here but just thought I'd throw this in here.....

Answer 5

Do you actually have a question?

Answer 6

Tell me what you think of it.

Answer 7

Mr. Gatto is either deliberately distorting or misrepresenting what Darwin actually said. I've read the Descent of Man. Other people may have twisted it around to support genocide and eugenics but Darwin certainly did not claim that most humans are biological garbage.