Prevention and elimination of disease, insanity, drunkenness and crime - a suggestion
Citation:
Osborne, Henry. 'Prevention and elimination of disease, insanity, drunkenness and crime - a suggestion'. - Dublin: Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland,Vol. X Part LXXV, 1894/1895, pp85-99Download Item:
Abstract:
Under the present social system marriage is permitted to persons
quite unfit, physically or mentally, to produce sound and healthy
offspring; say, rather, quite sure to produce offspring that are sickly
and unsound.
If it is in the power of man to prevent it, does not every humane
instinct demand that it be prevented? If we pause a little and
reflect, we see that it is in man's power to prevent it to such a great
extent that the face of human society would be blessedly changed.
It is in our own power to effect this happy change by the exercise
of self-denial and self-restraint; and without some self-denial and
self restraint virtue is impossible, nay, society itself is impossible.
The greatest happiness of the greatest number is not only a principle
of social science, it may become a demand of virtue and
humanity. And no persons in the community
will be more benefited by the restraint and restriction than those
very persons who will be denied marriage licence on account of unsound
constitution.
Author: Osborne, Henry
Publisher:
Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of IrelandType of material:
Journal articleCollections
Series/Report no:
Journal of The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of IrelandVol. X Part LXXV, 1894/1895
Availability:
Full text availableISSN:
00814776Metadata
Show full item recordLicences: