Gattaca Essay

Section 1: Question 1 – The society of Gattaca works to repress rather than to enhance the potential of human beings. Discuss.

Eugenics essentially began as a good thing. Early genicists had the intention of improving the quality of the human population by selecting desired traits. Because of the limited knowledge available in the early nineteen-hundreds this approach to changing the gene pool seemed reasonable. The researchers believe that by controlling human “reproductive” conditions like mental retardation psychiatric illness and physical illness / disabilities could be destroyed. The scientific data to prove these statements would never surface.

The story of Vincent shows in Gattaca that there is possibility of beating the genetic engineering system. Vincent is one of the last naturally born babies born into a sterile, genetically enhanced world, where life expectancy and disease likelihood are ascertained at birth. Myopic and due to die at 30, he has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion. Vincent an invalid, dreams of working within Gattaca and making it into space. He combines with Jerome who was disabled in an accident to take his identity and live his life to enter the Gattaca Corporation. Vincent is selected for his lifelong desire, a manned mission to Titan.

Eugenics is defined, in some way or the other, as the process of reshaping the human race by determining the kinds of people who will be born. As such, there is much debate in the field of eugenics, with authors, like Philip Kitcher, who support laissez-faire or a minimalist approach of eugenics in which eugenic decision-making should be limited only to avoid neurological illnesses and in which parental free choice is valued. Gregory Stock’s essay, The Enhanced and Un-Enhanced, presents otherwise by supporting the position of maximalist eugenics, allowing individuals the full extent in the selection of genes. On the other hand, the film, Gattaca, raises major ethical problems by illustrating a dystopian society resulted by extensive

However, there were definitely a lot of moments where the eugenics movement seemed to be more concerned with proving past prejudices rather than actually looking for ways to improve future generations. All of the Craniometry tests and IQ tests seemed to be more concerned with proving what America already believed: that it was the superior group of people. The idea that these classifications of people could help produce a better society is the main part of the eugenics movement that seemed to be the most forward-looking. The Fitter Families contests Selden discusses are a good example of the eugenics movement attempting to be more focused on the future (Selden 2005, 221). Even with this focus on the future, it still seemed as though the eugenics movement was concerned with fixing the mistakes of the past.

Eugenics is the science of bettering a human population by selectively breeding in order to increase desirable heritable traits. This is done to improve future generations. People with desirable traits are encouraged to reproduce and people with undesirable traits are discouraged to reproduce. It was believed that eugenics would improve qualities of the human species and the human population. Eugenics played a major role in history and culture of the United States.

First and foremost this renovated idea of eugenics, which according to Edwin Black, “Only after the truth about the Nazi extermination became known did the American eugenics movement fade. American eugenics institutions rushed to change their name from eugenics to genetics” (Black XVII). These recently made global companies formed purely with the idea to help people who do not wish to burden their children with a disease that they cannot avoid and will hinder their life. While this idea that seems extremely logical, its methods are something Frankenstein may disagree

Just think about a human race free of genetic disease where everyone is intelligent and where society and technology advance at staggering rates. This is the future that is envisioned by those who advocate eugenics. Eugenics is the study of methods to improve the human race by selection of parents based on their inherited characteristics (Hartl). The idea was first discussed by Sir Francis Galton in the 1880’s, but was widely unaccepted by people at first due to fear that it would take away their basic human rights and be misused (Hartl). In the early 20th century, eugenics was a very popular and widespread idea in the United States and there were laws created to encourage certain people to have children, while discouraging others from procreating (Morris 66). The main reason eugenics has fell into such disfavor is because the Nazis cited it as the reason for the Holocaust (Morris 66). The use of eugenics by the Nazis can be compared to the use Islam by ISIS, or the use of Christianity by the Westboro Baptist Church. It is a concept that can be misused based on interpretation and extremism. Eugenics itself is just an idea to improve the human race by selective breeding, not by killing millions. Forms of eugenics should be implemented in society because they eliminate genetic diseases and problems, spread favorable traits and attributes, create a more intelligent and less flawed society, and help advance the human race as a whole.

The idea of eugenics was first introduced by Sir Francis Galton, who believed that the breeding of two wealthy and successful members of society would produce a child superior to that of two members of the lower class. This assumption was based on the idea that genes for success or particular excellence were present in our DNA, which is passed from parent to child. Despite the blatant lack of research, two men, Georges Vacher de Lapouge and Jon Alfred Mjoen, played to the white supremacists' desires and claimed that white genes were inherently superior to other races, and with this base formed the first eugenics society. The American Eugenics Movement attempted to unethically obliterate the rising tide of lower classes by immorally

In the film Gattaca, arguably genetic discrimination is the most prominent public health theme present. As such, I decided to focus on this theme. I also choose this public health perspective due to its relevance in this generation. It is very plausible for this to be a topic of major concern in the near future. Although it is currently emerging as a concern, the applications of eugenics are still under development and discussion, and have not yet reached the level displayed in the film.

The Personal Genetics Education Project defines eugenics as a philosophical belief that posits that breeding and reproduction among people with desirable qualities should be encouraged while people with undesirable traits should be actively discouraged from breeding with one another. In doing so, traits that are considered favorable by the general society will certainly be passed down to future generations, while the undesired ones would be minimized and eventually removed from the gene pool. This, in the long run, will lead to the improvement of society in general. The practice of promoting reproduction among people with desired traits is termed positive eugenics while the prohibition of reproduction among people with negative characteristics

In the Early 20th century the Eugenics movement was a popular one, taking root in all facets of civilization. Darwin’s theories of evolution had been a starting point for many in the scientific community to form what is known as Eugenics. The fear of the inferior, being considered weak, and immigration caused many to grasp onto eugenics as gospel. Eugenics was so deep seeded at this point it was embraced by scientists, politicians, as well as being a curriculum taught in schools. America had become the “dumping ground” for many of the “unfit” from other countries. This caused America to enforce stricter laws, tests, and punishments such as sterilization. During this time, a man by the name of Adolf Hitler was about to commit the biggest crime

Gattaca is an American based science fiction cinema directed by Andrew Niccol in 1997. The movie is set shortly where social class is demarcated by the genetic composition. Eugenics, which is the methodology of conceiving babies via genetic manipulation, has become the most typical process of giving birth (Niccol, 2015). Though discrimination is unlawful, the D.N.A analysis has become an ordinary procedure, and those who were naturally conceived are seen as ‘invalids’, which makes discriminated in various, for instance, resulting in being given minor jobs. Therefore, this research presents the summary, the biocultural phenomenon, and the real world implications of Gattaca (1997) movie.

The definition of eugenics is to breed out undesirable traits. Based off of Austrian scientist Gregor Mendel’s studies, eugenics is accomplished through selective breeding. Dominant traits would replace recessive traits and the law of dominance would be ineffective. Originally, the idea behind eugenics was not completely bad. Over time though, problems surrounding it have been found. Dealing with positive and negative traits, questions have been asked about what constitutes as a negative trait and who decides which traits are

Vincent Freeman was a naturally born child. He was called "invalids" along with others that were born in the same way. The doctors told his parents that he had a 99% chance of dying of a heart disorder when he was about 30 years old.