Book Analysis Essay on "Imbeciles" by Adam Cohen

Introduction

Man has always sought to make the world a better place. In other words, the survival of humanity forms one of the major components of our daily struggle in life to make certain that today's struggles do not bother future generations. On the other hand, in the achievement of this impossible exploit, it is worth noting that man has crossed the line by trying to play God. Such is manifested by the seemingly impossible scientific and medical innovations. The notion of a man playing God is well articulated in the book "Imbeciles" by Adam Cohen given that the book exposes how man has turned into a dishonorable being. In the book, Cohen talks about a Supreme Court ruling that legalized sterilization. The victim of the heartless act of neutering was an innocent young woman by the name Carrie Buck. Sadly, at the time this ruling was made, the US was in a craze of eugenics, and therefore, efforts were made by some advocates to control the population by eliminating weak people from society. For instance, weaker people were confined to mental wards and hospitals. Carrie Buck is one of the first victims to be sterilized because of her feebleness. The ruling was therefore made to prevent her from passing on her defective genes through sexual reproduction.

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In the book, Cohen discusses the harsh realities of eugenics that was witnessed in the US in the periods between 18 to 19 centuries. Eugenics is the act of improving the human species through the process of selectively mating individuals with specific hereditary features that are desirable. Moreover, to some people, eugenics means "nobility by birth." A scientist by the name Francis Galton in 1883 developed the phrase after combining the studies of biology and biostatistics to create hereditary. He defined eugenics as a science that improves stock (both human and animal). The eugenics program aimed to raise superior offspring selected cautiously from their parents. Galton believed that behavior and characteristics passed from one generation to the other by inheritance. For example, the perception of eugenics is that rich women conceived rich kids and vice versa. On the other hand, eugenics was regarded as a dark secret in American history in the 20th century, given that it promoted discrimination amongst several minority groups. For instance, it encouraged the reproduction of individuals with better genes while discouraging those with bad genes. As such, it was hardly discussed.

Involvement of the Non-Profit Sector in the Eugenics Movement

Usually, managers in non-profit organizations prioritize the needs of their customers. As a result, one of the most important features of management in a non-profit making organization is that the institution has many stakeholders whose needs are of importance. Even though non-profit organizations do not earn profits, they too must manage their result. According to Adam Smith, business owners are motivated to work hard to keep their ventures alive. He further states that the more a business grows, the more the community grows. Business people and non-profits will grow because they provide services and revenue to the individuals that are involved.

The non-profits sector was involved in the eugenics movement in many ways. First, organizations such as Children Requiring a Caring Community (CRACK) backed eugenics by paying its participants a whopping $ 300 for long-term birth control in crack addicts. In most cases, the long-term birth control involved the sterilization of the involved individuals. For example, some organizations discouraged the breeding of dogs. Thus, they sprayed them, sterilizing them so that they do not give birth to unwanted puppies. In the early 19th century, the United States led the eugenics movement together with other organizations. Just like other organizations in the neighboring countries in this period, the eugenics movement in the US gained momentum and government support, and the results were forced sterilization of many individuals.

Involvement of State Government in the Eugenics Movement

Eugenics is the study of agencies under social control, improving or impairing the racial qualities of future generations, physically and mentally. The state governments were involved in the eugenics movement in many ways. Building a better race being the main intent of the eugenics, the state governments developed regulations encouraging the fit and discouraging the unfit from siring children. For instance, state regulations came up with attempts to dissolve "unfit" qualities in society. These unfit qualities included acts like alcoholism and retardation. Secondly, state regulations encouraged fits with Darwinism even though the eugenicists believed it did not work fast enough.

Involvement of the Federal Government in the Eugenics Movement

The federal government was involved in the eugenics movement in many ways. First, it encouraged the birth control movement. Secondly, it promoted abortion and euthanasia. For instance, many individuals labeled as defective were forcibly euthanized in hospitals in the US. The aim was to create an optimal race in America and some parts of Europe. The eugenicists advocated for the testing of intelligence among the racial groups. They believed this would help them identify the mental deficit of individuals.

Conversely, the advocates restricted the migration of unwanted ethnic and racial groups into the US. They believed it would help them maintain predominantly Caucasian and American populations. In 1924, their efforts bore fruits since the federal government established the immigration act controlling the number of people entering the US. Lastly, in the US, the federal government created several societies, promoting eugenics. Examples include the Galton society, the eugenic record, and the American eugenics association. All these organizations carried out research and worked to promote eugenics in the federal government.

Recommendation

In my learning history, I have had experiences with many books. Conversely, one of the books that had a great impact on my life is Adam Cohen's "imbeciles." The book completely shaped how I viewed science. It made me think deeper regarding the negative consequences that science can pose. In the book, Adam Cohen points out how man tries to play God. For instance, through his technological and scientific accomplishments, it is proof that man is playing God. Cohen also points out how man is so disgraceful. He narrates to us how the supreme court of the United States made its ruling concerning the legalization of sterilization of weak individuals. The ruling led to the sterilization of an innocent woman just because she was thought to be unfit. Therefore, the book brings to light some of the lowest moments in the history of the Supreme Court. By putting such kind of a judgment on a person without any criminal record, the verdict could be seen as one of the unpleasant things that can be allowed to happen with the strong support of the highest court of law in the American land. Besides, on the issue of playing God, Cohen gives a picture of arrogance. For instance, the elite in American society was egotistical in that they placed inhuman judgments on innocent people based on their explicit definition of what was wrong and right.