Euthenics

Euthenics is a field of science that focuses on improving human well-being through the alteration of external factors such as education and the controllable environment. It is often compared to eugenics, but while eugenics aims to improve future generations by selective breeding, euthenics deals with the "betterment of existing human beings, especially by improving their environment," according to Ellen Swallow Richards, who is considered the founder of the discipline.

History

The term "euthenics" was first used by the American scientist Ellen Swallow Richards in her 1905 book Euthenics, the Science of Controllable Environment. Richards was a chemist and the first woman to be admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She used the term to refer to the study of the improvement of living conditions through conscious endeavor for the purpose of securing efficient human beings.

Principles

Euthenics is based on the principle that it is possible to improve the quality of human life by improving the conditions in which people live. These conditions can be physical, such as the quality of air and water, or they can be social, such as the quality of education and healthcare.

Relation to other disciplines

Euthenics is related to several other disciplines, including sociology, public health, and environmental science. It is often considered a part of the broader field of human ecology.

Criticism

Euthenics has been criticized for being too broad and not having a clear focus. Some critics argue that it overlaps too much with other disciplines, such as public health and sociology, and that it does not have its own unique methods or theories.

See also

• Eugenics
• Human ecology
• Public health
• Sociology
• Environmental science

References

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