H.G. WELLS AND G.K. CHESTERTON AS SOCIAL LEADERS: THE PROBLEM OF THEIR ATTITUDE TO EUGENICS

Abstract

The article highlights the social position of G.J. Wells and G.K. Chesterton in relation to Eugenics. At the turn of the XIX—XX centuries, first scientific circles, and then into the life of British society, the doctrine of improvement the human race, Eugenics, entered the life first of the scientific circles and then the life of the British society. The influential supporters of Darwin’s theory in scientific circles brought this doctrine onto the level of state policy and the discussion of Eugenic bills in the Parliament began. G. Wells was a Darwinist and a supporter of Eugenic policy. It was reflected in many of his works and in the image of the future created in them. G. Chesterton was a categorical opponent of social Darwinism and Eugenics, who claimed that these teachings, being introduced in the legislative field, would violate all previously accepted norms of morality and human rights. Having entered into a discussion with the supporters of Eugenics, G. Chesterton wrote the book “Eugenics and Other Evils”, in which he gave a detailed analysis of the negative consequences of the introduction of Eugenics into the life of society and gave a number of dire warnings about the danger of such a policy.