Had the modern professors of eugenics had power in France in 1694, they probably would not have permitted such a child to have been born. Their scientific knowledge would have shown conclusively that no person of value could have come from the union of his father and mother. In those days, nature had not been instructed by the professors of eugenics and so Voltaire was born.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Eugenics professors might have prevented Voltaire's birth by judging his parents unworthy.
- In plain terms
- Voltaire would not have been born if eugenicists had power.
- What can you take from it?
- Scientific judgments of value can prevent great human contributions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who decides value?
- What if genius was censored?
Another view
Voltaire's impact was cultural; not all scientific judgment is inherently flawed.
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