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*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : degenerate condition

*1 : degenerate condition

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Degeneration''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Degeneration '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Degeneration''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Degeneration '''''this link'''''].</center>

==Description==

==Description==

The [[idea]] of '''degeneration''' had significant [[influence]] on [[science]], art and [[politics]] from the 1850s to the 1950s. The [[social]] [[theory]] [[developed]] consequently from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Evolution Theory of Evolution]. [[Evolution]] meant that [[mankind]]'s [[development]] was no longer fixed and certain, but could [[change]] and evolve or degenerate into an unknown [[future]], possibly a bleak future that clashes with the [[analogy]] between evolution and civilization as a [[progressive]] positive direction.

The [[idea]] of '''degeneration''' had significant [[influence]] on [[science]], art and [[politics]] from the 1850s to the 1950s. The [[social]] [[theory]] [[developed]] consequently from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Evolution Theory of Evolution]. [[Evolution]] meant that [[mankind]]'s [[development]] was no longer fixed and certain, but could [[change]] and evolve or degenerate into an unknown [[future]], possibly a bleak future that clashes with the [[analogy]] between evolution and civilization as a [[progressive]] positive direction.

As a consequence, [[theorists]] assumed the [[human]] [[species]] might be overtaken by a more [[adaptable]] species or circumstances might change and suit a more adapted species. Degeneration theory presented a pessimistic outlook for the [[future]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_culture western civilization] as it believed the [[progress]] of the 19th century had begun to work against itself.

As a consequence, [[theorists]] assumed the [[human]] [[species]] might be overtaken by a more [[adaptable]] species or circumstances might change and suit a more adapted species. Degeneration theory presented a pessimistic outlook for the [[future]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_culture western civilization] as it believed the [[progress]] of the 19th century had begun to work against itself.

==History==

==History==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges-Louis_Leclerc,_Comte_de_Buffon Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon] (1707–1788) was the first to define "degeneration" as a [[theory]] of [[nature]]. Buffon incorrectly [[argued]] that entire [[species]] "degenerated" becoming sterile, weaker, or smaller due to harsh [[climates]]. By 1890 there was a growing fear of degeneration sweeping across Europe creating disorders that led to [[poverty]], [[crime]], alcoholism, [[moral]] [[perversion]] and [[political]] [[violence]]. Degeneration raised the possibility that Europe may be creating a class of degenerate people who may attack the [[social]] [[norms]], this led to support for a strong [[state]] which [[police]]s degenerates out of [[existence]] with the assistance of [[scientific]] [[identification]].

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges-Louis_Leclerc,_Comte_de_Buffon Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon] (1707–1788) was the first to define "degeneration" as a [[theory]] of [[nature]]. Buffon incorrectly [[argued]] that entire [[species]] "degenerated" becoming sterile, weaker, or smaller due to harsh [[climates]]. By 1890 there was a growing fear of degeneration sweeping across Europe creating disorders that led to [[poverty]], [[crime]], alcoholism, [[moral]] [[perversion]] and [[political]] [[violence]]. Degeneration raised the possibility that Europe may be creating a class of degenerate people who may attack the [[social]] [[norms]], this led to support for a strong [[state]] which [[police]]s degenerates out of [[existence]] with the assistance of [[scientific]] [[identification]].

In the 1850s French doctor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9n%C3%A9dict_Morel Bénédict Morel] [[argued]] more vigorously that certain [[groups]] of people were degenerating, going backwards in terms of [[evolution]] so each generation became weaker and weaker. This was based on pre-Darwinian [[ideas]] of [[evolution]], especially those of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck Jean-Baptiste Lamarck], who argued that acquired characteristics like [[drug]] [[abuse]] and [[sexual]] [[perversions]], could be inherited. Genetic predispositions have been [[observed]] for [[Addiction|alcoholism]] and criminality.

In the 1850s French doctor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9n%C3%A9dict_Morel Bénédict Morel] [[argued]] more vigorously that certain [[groups]] of people were degenerating, going backwards in terms of [[evolution]] so each generation became weaker and weaker. This was based on pre-Darwinian [[ideas]] of [[evolution]], especially those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck Jean-Baptiste Lamarck], who argued that acquired characteristics like [[drug]] [[abuse]] and [[sexual]] [[perversions]], could be inherited. Genetic predispositions have been [[observed]] for [[Addiction|alcoholism]] and criminality.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Nordau Max Nordau]'s 1890s bestseller ''Degeneration'' attempted to explain all [[modern]] [[art]], [[music]] and [[literature]] by pointing out the degenerate characteristics of the artists involved. In this [[fashion]] a whole [[biological]] explanation for [[social]] [[problems]] was [[developed]].

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Nordau Max Nordau]'s 1890s bestseller ''Degeneration'' attempted to explain all [[modern]] [[art]], [[music]] and [[literature]] by pointing out the degenerate characteristics of the artists involved. In this [[fashion]] a whole [[biological]] explanation for [[social]] [[problems]] was [[developed]].

The first scientific criminologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Lombroso Cesare Lombroso] working in the 1880s believed he found [[evidence]] of degeneration by [[studying]] the corpses of criminals. After completing an autopsy on murderer Villela he found the indentation where the spine meets the neck to be a signal of degeneration and subsequent criminality. Lombroso was convinced he had found the key to degeneration that had concerned [[liberal]] circles.

The first scientific criminologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Lombroso Cesare Lombroso] working in the 1880s believed he found [[evidence]] of degeneration by [[studying]] the corpses of criminals. After completing an autopsy on murderer Villela he found the indentation where the spine meets the neck to be a signal of degeneration and subsequent criminality. Lombroso was convinced he had found the key to degeneration that had concerned [[liberal]] circles.

In the twentieth century, eradicating "degeneration" became a [[justification]] for various [[eugenic]] programs, mostly in Europe and the United States. Eugenicists adopted the [[concept]], using it to justify the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(surgical_procedure) sterilization] of the supposedly unfit. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism Nazis] took up these eugenic efforts as well, including [[extermination]], for those who would corrupt [[future]] [[generations]]. They also used the [[concept]] in art, banning "degenerate" (entartete) [[art]] and [[music]]: see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_art degenerate art].

In the twentieth century, eradicating "degeneration" became a [[justification]] for various [[eugenic]] programs, mostly in Europe and the United States. Eugenicists adopted the [[concept]], using it to justify the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterilization_(surgical_procedure) sterilization] of the supposedly unfit. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism Nazis] took up these eugenic efforts as well, including [[extermination]], for those who would corrupt [[future]] [[generations]]. They also used the [[concept]] in art, banning "degenerate" (entartete) [[art]] and [[music]]: see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_art degenerate art].

For further information, see Daniel Pick's book ''Degeneration'', or the work of Sander Gilman.

For further information, see Daniel Pick's book ''Degeneration'', or the work of Sander Gilman.

In Alexey Severtzov's [[typology]] of the [[evolution]] directions this term is used in an ethically neutral way; it denotes such an evolutionary [[transformation]] that is accompanied by a decrease in [complexity], as apposed to aromorphosis (accompanied by increase in [[complexity]], cp. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagenesis anagenesis]), and idioadaptation (this term designates such an evolutionary transformation that is accompanied by neither a decrease nor increase in complexity, cp. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladogenesis cladogenesis]) (see, e.g., Korotayev 2004).

In Alexey Severtzov's [[typology]] of the [[evolution]] directions this term is used in an ethically neutral way; it denotes such an evolutionary [[transformation]] that is accompanied by a decrease in [complexity], as apposed to aromorphosis (accompanied by increase in [[complexity]], cp. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagenesis anagenesis]), and idioadaptation (this term designates such an evolutionary transformation that is accompanied by neither a decrease nor increase in complexity, cp. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladogenesis cladogenesis]) (see, e.g., Korotayev 2004).

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Decadence]]'''''

*'''''[[Decadence]]'''''

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgenics Dysgenics]

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgenics Dysgenics]

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_collapse Societal collapse]

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_collapse Societal collapse]

==References==

==References==

* Degeneration, Nordau and Nietzsche

* Degeneration, Nordau and Nietzsche

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degeneration Source]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degeneration Source]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]