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《The Science of Man》: Alexis Carrel and French Eugenics

  • Korean Review of French History
  • Abbr : KRFH
  • 2007, 16(0), pp.131~164
  • Publisher : KOREAN SOCIETY FOR FRENCH HISTORY
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Ji-Hyun PARK 1

1서강대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study is to rethink French eugenics by using the works of Alexis Carrel. Carrel’s theory emphasize the synthesis of the humane studies and the naturel science for understanding a man as a unity composed of body and soul. It was very popular among the intellectuals as well as with the masses in the 1930’s. At the time, Carrels’s theory was nearly not looked as eugenics. But, after the First War, this theory was criticized as the Nazi -style eugenics; Carrel collaborated with the Vichy Government and founded the《Fondation française pour l’étude des problèmes humains》with the support of Philippe Pétain. As the Vichy Government was the puppet government of the Nazis. Alexis Carrel’s《Science of Man》theory was in turn lumped together with Nazi-style eugenics. Recently, Carrel’s theory is being revaluated by historians who insist on the positive element of French eugenics. According to them, it is not Nazi-style eugenics. Considering that the Vichy government was voluntarily founded by French collaborators, Alexis Carrel was ‘vichyste’ who didn’t follow the ideologies and the policies of the Nazis. And the《Science of Man》was a kind of French eugenics which always existed before the Second War. The French eugenics is neither a political ideology nor a political movement in contrast to others Europeans eugenics. It is a social and cultural programme implemented into daily life. Historians emphasize the positive element of French eugenics through the《Science of Man》 of Alexis Carrel. In order to demonstrate, we tried to examine two perspectives about the《Science of Man》. First, we showed the intellectual trends of 1930’s that French people accepted the ideas of eugenics with a great enthusiasm. Second, we examined the contents of the programme of the《Fondation française pour l’étude des problèmes humains》from 1941 to 1944. In his famous work, L’Homme, cet inconnu(Man, the Unknown), Alexis Carrel presents the essentials of eugenics of the《Science of Man》. This work was published in 1935, in the middle of the political crisis between socialism and fascism. This book had the purpose of persuading French people to establish an institution that could direct volunteer eugenics and other social programmes related to eugenics. In spite of this eugenics factor, it was a best seller in France. Since it rests on French philosophy, especially Henri Bergson, it was naturally accepted. It used Bergson’s view that criticised the rationalism ignoring the irrationality of man, that arises from problems associated with scientific progress without considering the humane spirit, and that defines the life by material and spiritual factors. This was probably why the eugenic ideas in the book, L’Homme, cet inconnu(Man, the Unknown) were popular for French people in the 1930’s. These eugenic ideas was realized in the social and cultural programme of the《Fondation française pour l’étude des problèmes humains》from 1941 to 1944. Specifically the Medicine of Labor became institutionalized under the Vichy government. The Medicine of Labor made an effort to avoid labor accidents and other work-related injuries by the spiritual counseling and physical examination. This programme helped to resolve the problems of the humanization of labor in the company. As it was very effective and appreciated by French people, after the Second War. This programme became the important social and cultural system throughout world. Through this point, it might be possible to insist on the positive perspective of French eugenics and to revaluate the ideas of Alexis Carrel. However, we should note the potential danger in this perspective. This shows that French people were always favorable about the eugenics ideas since the 1930’s. These ideas might give approval to conduct eugenics style policies to solve the immigration problem. After the First War, France became poplar for immigration. The immigrant problems in the 1930’s were in the middle of political conflicts. Then, the eugenic ideas of Alexis Carrel was favorable for French masses. Today, this situation has reappeared in France. France is becoming a flash point concerning immigrant problems. France has a serious conflict between French people and French immigrants in social and cultural dimensions. So it is necessary to keep a distance with the positive perspectives of the French eugenics and the revaluation of the Alexis Carrel’s《Science of Man》theory.

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