Erik L. Peterson

Erik L. Peterson, PhD, is Associate Provost and Associate Professor of the History of Science & Medicine at The University of Alabama. He publishes and teaches about the historical relationship between race and science in the United States and abroad.

The Shortest History of Eugenics
From “Science” to Atrocity—How a Dangerous Movement Shaped the World, and Why It Persists
by Erik L. Peterson
Paperback | $16.95 US / $21.95 CAN

Eugenics emerged in the nineteenth century as a potent and seemingly benevolent—even prudent—idea: The simplest way to rid society of social ills and bring about a healthier, more “desirable” humankind was through the “science” of better breeding. Seizing on advancements … Continue reading →