Francis Galton

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Why is Francis Galton a controversial figure in psychology?

-- Rachel Millward (Roadhead12@aol.com), November 24, 2002

Answers

Primarily because he invented the idea of eugenics -- selectively breeding humans in order to preserve and promote "desirable" characteristics. He also believed that "eminence" (i.e, success in business, politics, science, art, etc.) was a heritable trait. It is often forgotten that his project was for a "positive" eugenics only (encouraging people with desirable characteristics to marry and produce many offspring). He did not avocate the "negative" eugenics that became popoular in the early 20th century (i.e., preventing people with "undesirable" characteristics from producing offspring).

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), November 24, 2002.

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