Galton, Spencer and other 19th century thinkers believed that the new discoveries about evolution and genetics could be used in the service of social progress.

Over the following century, however, eugenics and "Social Darwinism" became associated with widespread human rights abuses and genocide.

• Does this mean that the original ideas on which these perspectives were based were somehow flawed?

• How else can we account for these disastrous consequences?

Being as specific as possible , please discuss about these ideas, their origins, and consequences.

Please post a response, and remember to respond to two other people's postings.