meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Origin Story

Eugenics Part Two: The Murderous Science

Origin Story

Podmasters

Society & Culture, News, News Commentary, History

4.8655 Ratings

🗓️ 4 December 2023

⏱️ 61 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In part two of the history of eugenics, Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey explain how the pseudo-science of “racial hygiene” seduced everyone from feminist birth-control pioneers and social democrats to the ardent white supremacists whose screeds shaped US immigration laws and influenced Hitler. Then they turn to the rise of eugenics in Germany and how it enabled the Nazis to introduce massive programs of sterilisation and extermination. After the Second World War, the name of eugenics was discredited but many of its leading thinkers and institutions kept going under the more acceptable guise of genetics. How was eugenics quietly rehabilitated by IQ fetishists and population-control advocates? Why has it become so popular in Silicon Valley? And does it even make scientific sense or is it really a pseudo-science designed to formalise bigotry? Despite its association with historic atrocities, the belief that biology is destiny and procreation is political has not gone away. Support Origin Story on Patreon for exclusive benefits including an extended version of the podcast. www.Patreon.com/originstorypod  Reading list: Alison Bashford and Philippa Levine (eds) - The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics (2010) Edwin Black — War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race (2003) Elof Axel Carlson — The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea (2001) GK Chesterton — Eugenics and Other Evils (1922) Charles Darwin — The Descent of Man (1871) Lyndsay Andrew Farrall — The Origins and Growth of the English Eugenics Movement 1865-1925 (1969) Francis Galton – Hereditary Genius (1869) Henry H Goddard – The Kallikak Family (1912) Stephen Jay Gould — The Mismeasure of Man (1981/1996) Madison Grant – The Passing of the Great Race (1916) Philippa Levine — Eugenics: A Very Short Introduction (2017) Gina Maranto — Quest for Perfection: The Drive to Breed Better Human Beings (1996) Adam Rutherford — Control: The Dark History and Troubling Present of Eugenics (2022) Lothrop Stoddard – The Rising Tide of Color Against White World Supremacy (1920) HG Wells – Anticipations of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress upon Human Life and Thought (1901)  Online: Quinn Slobodian — ‘The rise of the new tech right’, The New Statesman (2023) Written and presented by Dorian Lynskey and Ian Dunt. Audio production by Simon Williams. Music by Jade Bailey. Logo art by Mischa Welsh. Lead Producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Origin Story is a Podmasters production. Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Prime Video brings thrilling entertainment.

0:03.0

Watch Heavyweight Detective Breacher, Season 3 included with Prime.

0:07.0

Exactly how much danger is this job putting me in.

0:10.0

Treat yourself to the lovably chaotic Bridget Jones mad about the boy available to buy.

0:15.0

Did you have sex? Did you have sex?

0:17.0

Did you have sex last night?

0:19.0

Yes! And it was amazing!

0:23.0

Whatever you're into, it's right here.

0:25.3

Prime Video.

0:27.1

Click or tap the banner to find out more.

0:30.1

Ready to launch your business?

0:31.7

Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.

0:34.9

Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business

0:39.0

with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand, marketing tools that get your

0:43.7

products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time, from startups to scale

0:48.8

ups, online, in person and on the go. Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.

0:58.7

Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.

1:02.4

It's the cinematic event of the year.

1:06.3

Critics say sensational, superb, stunning savings.

1:08.4

Are you talking about karate kid legends?

1:11.6

No, sir, it's two-for-one cinema tickets from Compare the Market.

1:13.3

A spectacular offer.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Podmasters, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Podmasters and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.