Finding Deficiency. On Eugenics, Economics, and Certainty

摘要: I Introduction WERE MY COMMENTARY on these thoughtful essays guided solely by their merit, it would give equal space and weight to each. But my interests as an historian of the American South necessarily skew remarks and, in many instances, I'm simply not qualified pass comment some what authors have say. While perfectly enamored all four essays, find two them particularly helpful. Professor Cot's intriguing piece Irving Fisher, economics, science heredity is replete with insights that, a little conceptual retooling, might grant us even deeper access mind era. So, too, Leonard's astute examination progressivism labor legislation. commentary addresses builds especially effort elucidate relationship linking eugenics, production knowledge, blueprinting social order, idea "race." My will also address couple unexplained--perhaps unwitting--assumptions that guide aspects essays. interested authors' choice time place, I'll suggest arguments make better sense were they extend temporal scope inquiries past World War II tighten geographic focus. Look South, say, look later. The arguments, gentle warnings, greater relevance than realize. Seeing, Believing, Sensing EUGENICS--THE SCIENCE OF RIGHT BREEDING, Fisher called "scientific humaniculture"--rested "the supposition characters 'inferiority' 'superiority' individuals could be objectively ascertained" (Cot 2005: 799). In Annie terms, eugenics was intimately connected profound epistemological--even ontological--shifts early 20th century: "from visible measurable magnitudes, such numbers, forces, prices, impalpable, invisible magnitudes obliges scientists for indirect measurement phenomena search traces, signs, marks, fingerprints, color skin, or shape skeleton" 800). Cot mentions movement's other assumptions, but principally its "search ... signs," least because helps explain session doesn't fully explain, cultural terms: Why there link between economics? then (circa 1860-1930)? And function did practical intellectual braiding economics serve? essay offers muted essentially correct answer. As discipline concerned reliably identifying historical trends predicting future behaviors, bolstered eugenicists' beliefs hereditary traits reaffirmed those observable empirically verifiable. Perhaps most importantly, gave appearance empirical legitimacy, which served empower movement masked worries about real difficulties consistently who supposedly inferior. explains, quite brilliantly way thinking, embraced precisely he saw blood genes civic behavior," connect body (global) politic 801). Critically, considered statistics probabilities--the construction human pedigrees--provided data necessary who, precisely, fit unfit. It this appeal larger context made want explore. begin where ends. finishes her stimulating reference anamorphosis--"the pictorial technique allowed Renaissance painters hide forbidden image . …