Part Two: Francis Galton: Inventor of Eugenics
Summary
This episode of Behind the Bastards begins a series on Francis Galton, the father of eugenics, by examining his vile personal conduct during his explorations. The hosts detail his racist views, his callous treatment of a deceased local guide, and his sexual obsession with secretly measuring the bodies of indigenous women using a sextant. They also discuss how his writings helped shape the language of colonialism and contrast his bigotry with the more respectful observations of contemporary explorer David Livingstone.
Topics discussed
Intro: Galton, Milo Yiannopoulos, and guest David Bell
Sponsorships and interfaith funeral etiquette
Galton's colonial exploits and treatment of locals
Galton's character and early scientific mapping work
Expedition to South Africa and interactions with natives
Galton's sexual objectification of local women
Origins of scientific racism and eugenics
Sponsors and return from break
Monogenism vs Polygenism and genetic ancestry
Contemporary views on race: Livingstone vs Burton
Galton's marriage and early eugenics writings
Critique of hereditary talent and diversity
Great men theory and selective breeding proposals
Racial hierarchies and public reception of eugenics
Nepotism in professions and military genetics
Galton's relationship with Charles Darwin
Sponsors and critical reviews of Galton's work
Bell curve classifications and education vs breeding
Coining 'Eugenics' and the Anthropometric Laboratory
Closing remarks and final sponsorships
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