Eugenics - Eugenics is a social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through various forms of intervention. Here's the hypothetical scenario: A new way is found to boost the IQ of people who have a certain combination of genetic traits, say around 20% of the populus would gain at least 60 IQ points, among them most of the smartest people since that's the way the 'substance' was engineered. It (the substance) can be delivered via an injection or aerosol but needs to be delivered enmasse to avoid the development of immunity. The downside is that of the remaining 80% of the population, the mortality rate would be 15% (i.e. 15% would definitely die as a direct result of receiving the 'substance'), 25% would become slightly more intelligent by only a few IQ points and the remainder would lose at least 25 IQ points. Clearly, there are enormous advantages to be gained by boosting the IQ to around 200 or more in such a large slice of the population. You know other countries have, or almost have, the technology to develop the same IQ booster. If the decision was yours, would you give the go-ahead for mass delivery of this substance?
This is probably something that will happen many years from now...in some shape or form....but I believe it must be both a safe and voluntary thing. It will be a matter of personal competition, and if it's safe....many will come onboard.
I would suggest that a committee is formed for discussing such issues and propose a healthy regulation around it. No one should be forced to take the substance.
That's the dilemma, though. There is no safe IQ Booster. It is entirely your decision and no-one else's. Waiting until such time as a safe IQ Booster becomes available (if ever), will mean that other countries with more ruthless regimes in power could gain the upper hand, perhaps by two or three decades.
China is allready improving their genes. So, I wouldn't be surpriced if they would reformed an IQ booster forced on everyone. But the interesting thing is that forced sterilization was used in many western democratic countries. In sweden etc.. 63 000 people was sterilized between 1934 and 1976. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization
Eugenics is certainly not a new idea and has been practiced across the world to varying degrees. Which brings me back to the hypothetical question ... Eugenics is going to become a more pervasive issue as time progresses. No Western populus would ever consent to mass intervention. So would you give the order if it was your decision?