The Wrong of Eugenic Sterilization

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Social Philosophy

Background:

• Non-consensual sterilization (NCS) was a practice in state-sponsored eugenics programs.
• Existing ethical frameworks for NCS often focus on autonomy, rights, or dignity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel ethical account of the wrong of non-consensual sterilization.
• To argue that the core wrong of NCS lies in its dehumanizing and animalizing character.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical argumentation and conceptual analysis.
• Critique of existing bioethical accounts of NCS.
• Defense of dehumanization as a key concept in understanding the wrong of NCS.

Main Results:

• The distinctively wrong aspect of NCS is its expression of degrading social meaning, equating individuals with animals.
• Accounts of NCS focusing solely on autonomy, means-end reasoning, harm, or dignity are insufficient.
• The language of dehumanization is essential for a comprehensive bioethical understanding of NCS.

Conclusions:

• The wrong of NCS is fundamentally rooted in its dehumanizing core, conveying that victims have animal-like value.
• Bioethics requires an expanded vocabulary, including the concept of dehumanization, to adequately address practices like NCS.