Euthenics deals with the "improvement" through altering external factors such as education and the controllable environment, including the prevention and removal of contagious disease and parasites, environmentalism, education regarding home economics, sanitation, and housing.
The term was derived in the late 19th century from the Greek verb "euthenein": "thrive", "flourish". Ellen Swallow Richards (1842–1911) was one of the first writers to use the term, in The Cost of Shelter (1905), with the meaning "the science of better living".
Euthenics is not normally interpreted to have anything to do with changing the composition of the human gene pool by definition, although everything that effects society has some effect on who reproduces and who does not.
[edit] Quotations
| “ |
"Men ignore nature's laws in their personal lives. They crave a larger measure of goodness and happiness, and yet in their choice of dwelling places, in their building of houses to live in, in their selection of food and drink, in their clothing of their bodies, in their choice of occupations and amusements, in their methods and habits of work, they disregard natural laws and impose upon themselves conditions that make their ideals of goodness and happiness impossible of attainment." (George E. Dawson, The control of life through Environment) |
” |
| “ |
"It is within the power of every living man to rid himself of every parasitic disease." (Louis Pasteur) |
” |
| “ |
"Probably not more than twenty-five percent in any community are capable of doing a full days work such as they would be capable of doing if they were in perfect health" (Ellen Richards, Euthenics: The Science of Controllable Environment : A Plea for Better Conditions As a First Step Toward Higher Human Efficiency (Public Health in America)) |
” |
| “ |
"Right living conditions comprise pure food and a safe water supply, a clean and disease free atmosphere in which to live and work, proper shelter and adjustment of work, rest, and amusements." (Ellen Richards) |
” |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Sources
