Why China will become the World Power

  • Thread starter Scientific Method
  • Start date
  • Tags
    China Power
In summary, Prof. Lynn believes that China will soon institute a mandatory ES program for its population, and that the resulting improvement in its gene pool will tip the international balance of power decisively in its favor.
  • #1
Scientific Method
31
0
Interesting article: http://www.amren.com/0111issue/0111issue.htm#article1 [Broken]

I strongly recommend reading the whole article, it is something you definitely don't want to miss, but here is an interesting quote:

Prof. Lynn is convinced, however, that an Asian country—most likely China—will soon institute a mandatory ES program for its population, and that the resulting improvement in its gene pool will tip the international balance of power decisively in its favor. Attitudes in China radically differ from those in the West. Chinese law already requires sterilization of mental retardates and those with genetic illnesses. Prenatal testing of fetuses is mandatory, and defectives must be aborted. No one with mental illness, venereal disease, or hepatitis may marry.

In the mid-1990s, a poll-taker asked Chinese and Western doctors the following question: Should there be mandatory sterilization for a single, blind woman on public welfare who has already had three children by three different men, all of whom are absent from the household? Only five percent of Western doctors but 82 percent of Chinese doctors said “yes.”

Now that socialism is discredited, Prof. Lynn thinks the Chinese will fill the ideological void with eugenics. He predicts it will become the first, full-fledged eugenic state: all 12-year-old girls will be fitted with contraceptives, only approved couples will be permitted to have children, and ES will be used for all births. Psychopathy and genetic diseases will be eliminated, and IQ will stabilize at the theoretical maximum of about 200 in six or seven generations. Licensing parents will seem just as reasonable as licensing drivers.

Prof. Lynn predicts that in the short run, China’s rulers will clone themselves. In most cases this will mean talent and ability are passed on to the next generation, and it will make it easier for the oligarchs to pass on power to people they can trust—their own twins.

Prof. Lynn’s best guess at a timetable is that ES will be perfected and in obligatory use in China within ten years. Twenty years later there will be the first generation of ES adults, and 20 years after that, half the working population will have come from selected embryos. In 50 years, therefore, China will be the world’s most formidable power.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Scientific Method said:
...Chinese law already requires sterilization of mental retardates and those with genetic illnesses. Prenatal testing of fetuses is mandatory, and defectives must be aborted. No one with mental illness, venereal disease, or hepatitis may marry...

I think this information is wrong. Some people out in the country don't go to hospital to have children, so I am sure they could not enforce prenatal testing. I personally know a married man with mental illness.

The main difference in China is the one child policy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_child_policy

I haven't heard anything about the rest. I'd be very interested in any links from a source I recognise.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
Lets assume that's eugenetics is desirable. Why have a slow and uncertain selective breeding program? Much better to do genetic engineering. This will immediately and certainly change the genes coding intelligence (or those affecting diseases, longevity, beauty, happiness or personality). Furthermore, there is no need for the state to force this. People spend a large part of their life and work in order to provide for their children and most will probably willingly pay vast amounts so that their children can be happy and compete with their peers. The only thing preventing this is cost and lack of knowledge regarding what to change. Both problems will probably rapidly diminish as science and technology grows. 50 years ago there was no knowledge of DNA and very little knowledge of how the cell works. Today we have DNA mapped and already have the ability to create new species. What can we do in 50 more years?
 
  • #4
Command-and-control genetic engineering vs free-market eugenics

Aquamarine said:
Lets assume that's eugenetics
Eugenics.



Aquamarine said:
is desirable. Why have ... slow and uncertain selective breeding...?
We have been using slow and uncertain selective breeding for the same reason we have been using slow and uncertain economic selection. See your own posts regarding capitalism and the free market vs. centralized economic command-and-control.
 
  • #5
hitssquad said:
We have been using slow and uncertain selective breeding for the same reason we have been using slow and uncertain economic selection. See your own posts regarding capitalism and the free market vs. centralized economic command-and-control.
This is of course an extremely important point. For example, it is probably impossible to know what the best personality might be in a future and very different society. Or eliminating sickle-cell genes might seem like a good idea but less so if Malaria becomes resistant to all medications.

But the future is not totally impossible to predict. Genetic diseases that are cause great disability can be eliminated with very little risk. Similarly with crippling depressions. And if there is a general g factor, then changing genes that only affects this would probably always be beneficial.

Raising intelligence through selective breeding and genetic engineering have the same goal. The only difference is that genetic engineering can do it much quicker and with no need for a fascist police state.
 
  • #6
Back to Galton for ideas on fascism-free eugenics

Aquamarine said:
Raising intelligence through selective breeding and genetic engineering have the same goal. The only difference is that genetic engineering can do it much quicker and with no need for a fascist police state.
Does selective breeding require a fascist police state?
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=158758&postcount=124


--
It ought not to be difficult to arouse in the inhabitants a just pride in their own civic worthiness, analogous to the pride which a soldier feels in the good reputation of his regiment or a lad in that of his school. By this means a strong local eugenic opinion might easily be formed. It would be silently assisted by local object lessons, in which the benefits derived through following eugenic rules and the bad effects of disregarding them were plainly to be discerned.

The power of social opinion is apt to be underrated rather then overrated. Like the atmosphere which we breathe and in which we move, social opinion operates powerfully without our being conscious of its weight.
--
Francis Galton. Essays in Eugenics. Local Associations for Promoting Eugenics. p107.
 
  • #7
hitssquad said:
Does selective breeding require a fascist police state?
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=158758&postcount=124


--
It ought not to be difficult to arouse in the inhabitants a just pride in their own civic worthiness, analogous to the pride which a soldier feels in the good reputation of his regiment or a lad in that of his school. By this means a strong local eugenic opinion might easily be formed. It would be silently assisted by local object lessons, in which the benefits derived through following eugenic rules and the bad effects of disregarding them were plainly to be discerned.

The power of social opinion is apt to be underrated rather then overrated. Like the atmosphere which we breathe and in which we move, social opinion operates powerfully without our being conscious of its weight.
--
Francis Galton. Essays in Eugenics. Local Associations for Promoting Eugenics. p107.
The drive to procreate is one of the strongest humans have. And human altruism is quite limited. I see it as extremely unlikely that many people would voluntarily abstain from having children. Furthermore, the least intelligent would be least affected by such intellectual arguments. I see no alternative to a fascist police state that uses forces to prevent many people from having children.

Another argument against selective breeding is that it involves much more central planning by the state than genetic engineering in a free market.
 

1. Why is China predicted to become the world power?

China is predicted to become the world power due to its rapid economic growth, large population, and increasing global influence. China has been experiencing high economic growth rates for several decades, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Additionally, China has the largest population in the world, giving it a significant advantage in terms of human resources. China's increasing presence in global trade, investments, and politics also contribute to its prediction as the future world power.

2. How has China's economy contributed to its rise as a world power?

China's economy has played a crucial role in its rise as a world power. The country has been consistently experiencing high economic growth rates since the late 1970s, making it the second-largest economy in the world after the United States. China's economic growth has allowed the country to invest in infrastructure, technology, and human capital, making it a major player in global trade and investments.

3. What are some factors that could hinder China's rise as the world power?

While China's economic growth and global influence have positioned it as a potential world power, there are several factors that could hinder its rise. One major concern is China's aging population, which could lead to a decline in the workforce and economic productivity. The country also faces challenges related to pollution, income inequality, and human rights issues, which could impact its image and relationships with other countries.

4. How has China's political system influenced its rise as a world power?

China's political system, which is characterized by a strong central government and a one-party rule, has played a significant role in its rise as a world power. The country's political stability and ability to make long-term plans and policies have contributed to its economic growth and global influence. However, China's political system has also faced criticism for its lack of democracy and human rights violations.

5. What impact will China's rise as a world power have on the global landscape?

China's rise as a world power is expected to have a significant impact on the global landscape. As the world's largest economy, China's decisions and actions will have a significant influence on global trade, investments, and politics. Additionally, China's increasing global presence and influence could also lead to shifts in international relationships and power dynamics. It is essential for other countries to pay attention to China's rise and its actions to adapt to the changing global landscape.

Similar threads

Replies
12
Views
2K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
12
Views
9K
  • General Discussion
Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
64
Views
7K
  • Earth Sciences
Replies
3
Views
3K
Back
Top