‘Julian Huxley and the Continuity of Eugenics in Twentieth-century Britain’

Abstract

Julian Huxley (1887-1975) was a prominent biologist who played a key role in the development of the evolutionary synthesis. Huxley was also a committed eugenicist who advocated for the use of biological knowledge to improve society. His work spanned several decades, from his early involvement in the eugenics movement before World War II to his later advocacy for a “world evolutionary humanism” during the Cold War. The article argues that Huxley’s views on eugenics evolved over time, but that his commitment to the use of biological knowledge to improve society remained constant. It traces Huxley’s commitment to eugenics through different periods of his life, including his early years as a student and young academic, his advocacy for “reform eugenics”, his anti-Nazi stance, his work at UNESCO and his post-war activities. The article explores how Huxley’s views were shaped by the social and political context of the time, as well as by the development of new scientific knowledge. – AI-generated abstract.