Breeding Superman: Nietzsche, Race and Eugenics in Edwardian and Interwar Britain (Studies in Social & Political Thought) [Paperback]

_Breeding Superman: Nietzsche, Race and Eugenics in Edwardian and Interwar Britain_ (2002, Liverpool) by Dan Stone is an interesting study of the role of eugenics and the influence of the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche in Edwardian and interwar Britain. This book considers the important role that eugenic thought came to take for upper and middle-class British intellectuals during this period. In particular, the book focuses on several important British intellectuals who adopted such a perspective and the role that extreme eugenicists came to take in advocating for a "lethal chamber". The results of such notions came to play out in the Nazi state, but as the author maintains such ideas were not alien to the British themselves. Further, the author shows how such notions have again come to light in recent times in light of recent scientific developments in the field of genetics and population control.

The book includes the following chapters-

Introduction: The Extremes of Englishness - attempts to examine why fascism failed in England and notes the role of important British fascists such as Oswald Mosley. Considers the role and reception of the German thinker Nietzsche on British intellectuals including H. G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, and the Webbs on the left and A. R. Orage, Oscar Levy, and Anthony Ludovici on the right. Explains how Nietzschean ideas and the ideas behind Social Darwinism came to play an important role for such thinkers in their desire to construct a new society based on eugenic principles. Explains how Nietzsche's ideas came to be useful for individuals ranging from anarchists to National Socialists and from feminists to misogynists. Explains the influence of Nietzsche on Jewish intellectuals. Also, considers the notion that Europe must be freed through "technocratic management" which gave rise to the fascist and Nazi states. Finally, explains how Nietzschean ideas came to play a prominent role in the journal _The New Age_ of Orage.

Oscar Levy: A Nietzschean Vision - examines the role of Nietzsche's thought on German Jewish intellectual Oscar Levy. Explains how Levy sought a revival of the aristocracy based on Nietzschean principles and considers his relationship with Havelock Ellis, Anthony Ludovici, the notion of the Nietzschean "Ubermensch", and the journal _The New Age_. Notes the prominent role that eugenics came to play in the thinking of Levy as well as his involvement with liberalism, Christianity, his problematic take on the Jewish issue, and National Socialism.

Anthony Mario Ludovici: A `Light-Weight' Superman - examines the thinking of British intellectual Anthony Mario Ludovici as it concerned Nietzscheanism, eugenics, and his problematic relationship with National Socialism. Ludovici was involved with such individuals as Elisabeth Forster-Nietzsche (Nietzsche's sister), Shaw, Ellis, Levy, and others in Edwardian England. He was to embrace the aristocracy and described his political beliefs as "National Toryism". Ludovici was to express an "aristocratic radicalism" embracing elements including social Darwinism, ruralism, monarchism, and a staunch opposition to feminism and the role of the Jews. Ludovici also expressed admiration for Hitler and the Nazis and their implemented eugenics measures as well as admiring such fascist intellectuals as T. E. Hulme and Wyndham Lewis. However, following the war with the discrediting of Nazism and eugenics Ludovici was forced to rescind these views.

Nietzsche and Eugenics - considers the role of Nietzsche on the eugenics movement and the rise of Nazism and fascism. Notes how Nietzsche's thinking came to influence the sociologist Chatterton-Hill in his advocacy of an aristocracy of taste. Explains Nietzsche's prominent role in the thinking of fascist intellectuals such as George Bernard Shaw, W. B. Yeats, T. E. Hulme, and Wyndham Lewis. Notes how many social Darwinists came to reject Nietzscheanism as being too extreme. Explains the beliefs of Orage that the English must breed the Superman and the role that the Superman played in the thought of Nietzsche. Notes the role of many prominent eugenicists and the thinking of Nietzsche mentioning for example Nietzsche's opposition to Christianity (which many eugenicists believed needed to be cast aside in order to found their utopia), the problematic relationship with Darwinism, National Toryism and opposition to the tastes of the masses, and the role of a "scientistic" utopia. Finally, considers many "dissenters" who opposed Nietzscheanism and his general rejection by Anglo-Saxon and American philosophers (many of whom continued to advocate eugenics but based on Darwinian principles instead).

Race and Eugenics - explains the role of race and eugenics, the opposition of upper-middle class intellectuals to taxation and the lower classes, the role of the aristocratic, and notions of Anglo-Saxon supremacy. Notes the belief that heredity was the cause of poverty and the opposition to the "feeble-minded" and "deviants". Explains how the eugenicists founded by Francis Galton and Pearson formed the Eugenics Society and sought out the breeding of the superior race.

The "Lethal Chamber" in Eugenic Thought - explains the role of the "lethal chamber" which arose as a possible option in the thinking of certain eugenicists. Explains the notions of "race regeneration" as it appeared in the writings of H. G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw. Contrasts "positive measures" such as "hygienic marriages" with "negative measures" such as sterilization as advocated by eugenicists. Notes the mention of the lethal chamber in the thinking of Havelock Ellis, H. G. Wells, and especially George Bernard Shaw as a means for eliminating certain of the unfit. Notes how such individuals in fact were to promote mass murder through this means. Explains the role of American eugenicists such as Madison Grant as well as the continuing role of Nietzschean thought used to justify the lethal chamber. Explains the extreme opposition to eugenics by such conservative Catholic thinkers as G. K. Chesterton. Notes how eugenicists came to influence the thinking of Hitler who referred to certain individuals as a "bacillus" and eventually was to come to make use of the lethal chamber in Nazi Germany. Explains how the rise of the Nazis were to forever discredit eugenics but that in recent times eugenic concerns have been expressed again. Notes the role of eugenics in the thinking of modern philosophers such as Peter Singer and his extreme views including infanticide.

Conclusion: From "Underman" to "Underclass" - explains how following the Nazis eugenics came to be forever discredited but notes how for modern eugenicists the notion of the Underman came to be replaced with that of the "underclass". Notes the rise of scientific racism and examines the case of _The Bell Curve_ in the field of IQ. Explains future scientific investigations into eugenics and the difficult issues raised by genetics. Explains how modern liberals continue to stigmatize the "underclass" even as they seek to help them. Concludes with comments on the role of Nietzsche, race, and eugenics and explains how certain individuals had adopted elements of all three in the past.

This book offers an interesting study of the role of Nietzscheanism and the promotion of eugenics by many upper middle-class individuals in England. The author explains how many prominent intellectuals advocated both positive and negative eugenic measures. Also, considers the role of the deadly "lethal chamber" that arose in the thinking of certain eugenicists and how this notion was taken up by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis ultimately leading to the death camps. In recent times, with the rise of genetics, eugenics continues to influence modern thought and similar issues as raised in the past continue to play a role in the future.

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