Liberal Fascism - Chapter Seven

Eugenics refers to the controversial belief and practice of improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding and sterilization. In the context of the Progressive enterprise, it can be inferred that eugenics played a central role. This is because the Progressive movement in the early 20th century advocated for social reforms, including measures to improve public health, education, and welfare. Eugenics was seen by some Progressives as a means to achieve these goals by controlling reproduction and promoting the reproduction of individuals deemed "fit" or "superior." However, it is important to note that eugenics has since been widely discredited and condemned for its unethical and discriminatory practices.

Margaret Sanger is the correct answer because she was an American birth control activist who advocated for the use of contraception and family planning. In her 1934 book, "Code to Stop Overproduction of Children," Sanger discussed the need to control population growth and the potential consequences of overpopulation. This idea of limiting the number of children a couple can have aligns with the Chinese "One Child" policy, which was implemented decades later in 1979. H.G. Wells, J.S. Haldane, and Julian Huxley were all influential figures in their own right, but they did not specifically address or predict the Chinese policy in the same way Margaret Sanger did.

Sidney Webb, the father of Fabian socialism, insisted that no consistent eugenicist can be a Laissez Faire advocate. This means that someone who supports the idea of eugenics, which involves improving the genetic quality of the human population, cannot also believe in a hands-off approach to economic and social policies. Laissez Faire promotes minimal government intervention and regulation, which would contradict the principles of eugenics that require active intervention and control over reproduction and genetics.

Goldberg admits that liberals were right about the moral imperative of desegregation.

The correct answer suggests that the liberal "blind spot on a blind spot" refers to the modern liberal's failure to recognize that their own intentions or actions may be considered evil by others. This implies that they are unaware of the potential negative consequences or moral implications of their beliefs and actions.

Darwin's ideas were an extension of Malthusian economics. Malthusian economics, proposed by Thomas Malthus, argued that population growth would outpace resources, leading to competition and struggle for survival. Darwin applied this concept to the natural world, suggesting that individuals with advantageous traits would have a better chance of survival and passing on their traits to future generations. This idea formed the basis of Darwin's theory of natural selection and evolution.

Dogma is the correct answer because Goldberg states that the most powerful inhibiting influence against bad ideas is dogma. Dogma refers to a set of principles or beliefs that are considered unquestionable and authoritative. When dogma is present, it often prevents people from critically examining and challenging ideas, leading to the suppression of new and potentially better ideas. Emotion, reason, and science may also play a role in inhibiting bad ideas, but according to Goldberg, dogma is the most powerful force in this regard.

John Maynard Keynes declared eugenics to be "the most important, significant and, I would add, genuine branch of sociology." This suggests that Keynes believed in the importance and validity of eugenics as a field of study within sociology.

The term "Social Darwinist" originally referred to anyone who opposed the idea that the state should interfere in the reproductive order of society. This means that they believed in allowing natural selection to determine the success or failure of individuals and societies, without any intervention from the government. They believed that society should function like a biological system, where the strongest and most fit individuals would thrive and reproduce, while the weaker ones would not. This perspective was influenced by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, but it specifically focused on its application to human societies.

This answer suggests that when liberals are morally flawed, it indicates that they are actually conservatives. This implies that being morally flawed goes against the principles and beliefs typically associated with liberals, and instead aligns them with the conservative ideology.