Grundriß der menschlichen Erblichkeitslehre und Rassenhygiene (2/2) Menschliche Auslese und Rassenhygiene

This volume offers a systematic survey of early twentieth‑century ideas about human heredity and what its authors called “race hygiene.” It begins by distinguishing the many hereditary differences that appear within populations, then moves to the concept of biological selection—how varying numbers of offspring among individuals shape a group’s genetic makeup over generations.

The authors explain several forms of selection, from the harsh mortality that trims animal and plant populations to the subtler “fertility selection” seen when individuals differ in reproductive output. They draw a clear line between positive and negative selection—preserving traits deemed advantageous and eliminating others—while warning against confusing these processes with purely random loss. The text is rich with sixty‑five diagrams that illustrate the mechanisms discussed, grounding abstract theory in concrete examples drawn from both natural and modern societies.

Written for scholars of genetics, anthropology, and public health, the work reflects the scientific language and concerns of its era, providing a window into how researchers once framed the relationship between heredity, environment, and social policy.