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Between Progressivism and Institutionalism: Albert Benedict Wolfe on Eugenics

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  • Fiorito, Luca

Abstract

Albeit concerned with the biological element in social evolution, Albert B. Wolfe was among the very few economists of the progressive era who openly expressed their concerns about certain implications of eugenic rhetoric for the social science. Specifically, Wolfe questioned the strong hereditary boundaries that more extreme eugenicists suggested about human beings. A careful examination of Wolfe’s writings reveals that his reaction was rooted in the belief that many of the social problems that eugenicists attributed to hereditary limitations were actually imputable to the influence that the social, economic, and physical environment exercised on the individuals.

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  • Fiorito, Luca, 2013. "Between Progressivism and Institutionalism: Albert Benedict Wolfe on Eugenics," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 35(4), pages 449-469, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jhisec:v:35:y:2013:i:04:p:449-469_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Foresti, Tiziana, 2018. "Journal of the History of Economic Thought Preprints - Eugenics and Socialist Thought in the Progressive Era: The Case of James Medbery Mackaye," SocArXiv tzcef, Center for Open Science.
    2. Fiorito, Luca & Erasmo, Valentina, 2022. "Hereditarianism, Eugenics and American Social Science in the Interwar Years: Meet the Carverians," SocArXiv 7t59c, Center for Open Science.

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