Degeneration
1 Jan 1800
A dominant 19th century idea that used both the arts ans sciences to formulate it's reasonings. The idea of Degeneration was biblical in orgin and thought people to be considered "degenerates" if they were savages or mentally ill because they degenerated from Eden's perfection as a result of sinful behavior. Degenerates were considered to be children, peasants, women, laborers, and the insane. This led to many being condemned to asylums because of the thought of so many to be degenerates.