The Role of the Scientist in Society ―A Look at the American Eugenics Movement―

Abstract

It goes without saying that scientists live and work in society. The theories they propose and the applications of those theories influence and are influenced by their society. From the theories of Copernicus and Galileo to the atomic bombs of Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project, science has brought and continues to bring changes to society. After World War Ⅱ physicists themselves initiated discussions about their social responsibilities. Nazi eugenic policies also added to the debate about the responsibilities of scientists to society. This paper will look at eugenicists in late nineteenth and early twentieth century America and examine their relationship to society-how they were influenced by society and how they influenced society.