“Aristogenics", written by C. Ward Crampton, was originally published in A Decade of Progress in Eugenics, Scientific Papers of the Third International Congress of Eugenics (1932). C. Ward Crampton defines aristogenics as follows: “While Eugenics and Kakogenics are generally understood to refer respectively to considerations of good and evil in the sphere of Genetics, Aristogenics refers to the best.” The connection between aristogenics and eugenics is acknowledged in the introduction of the document, and according to Crampton, aristogenics differs from eugenics "..in nothing but its ideal acuity of focus." The exact difference between the two concepts is hard to discern from this document. Aristogenics proposed that the measure of greatness includes quality, extent, power and continuance of the effect of the life and work of the individual upon the world. As such, Aristogenics proposed to preserve collected data in an Aristogenic Record, in a Biological Hall of Fame that would annually feature ten men named the persons of greatest merit. How far this was taken is not exactly known from the available documents, though there is a list of the 1931 July to determine the Inductees listed in this document. The concept of eugenics claims to improve the genetic composition of a population, often promoting the use of selective breeding and sterilization to achieve this improvement. Essentially it is based on the premise that it is possible to distinguish between superior and inferior elements of societies, races, etc. Eugenics, always controversial, had reached its greatest popularity in the early 20th century and was practiced in the United States many years before eugenics programs were put into practice in Nazi Germany. For a biography of C. Ward Crampton, see: https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/551
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
The Third International Congress of Eugenics (1932); Springfield College
