Final answer:
Eugenics is a debunked methodology that sought to improve the human race by encouraging reproduction of 'desirable' traits and discouraging or preventing reproduction of those deemed 'inferior', which has led to numerous historical atrocities, particularly exemplified by the actions of Nazi Germany.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eugenics is a pseudoscience predicated on the mistaken belief that the human gene pool can be improved by selectively breeding individuals with desirable traits and preventing those with undesirable traits from reproducing. This belief, cataloged as pseudoscientific due to its lack of rigorous scientific methodology and moral objections, asserts that society's challenges can be addressed by manipulating human inheritance and breeding practices. During the early 20th century, eugenics gained traction in various countries and led to forced sterilization and even euthanasia programs, most notoriously in Nazi Germany. The Nazis aimed to create a superior Aryan race by sterilizing and killing those they considered unfit. Post World War II, eugenics fell into disrepute, but the eugenic ideology subtly persists in some sectors. The social and ethical implications of eugenics and its association with human rights violations have made it a subject of considerable historical and ethical analysis.