SPONSOR(S): Neurohumanities Research Group, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences (DIBS), Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI), and Health Humanities Lab (HHL) Responding to patterns of industrialization and institutionalization in the nineteenth century, degeneration theorists like Bénédict Morel, Cesare Lombroso, and Max Nordau became convinced that the human race was in mental and moral decline. Degeneration theory conflated mental disability with immorality and criminality, classifying vulnerable populations as dangerous deviants to justify incarceration and eugenics. In this lecture, Dr. Quirici uncovers racialized and gendered discourses of degeneration…