Monday, July 05, 2004
Euthanase children, says professor
The controversial utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer has given more ammunition to his critics by firmly endorsing infanticide in a UK newspaper. In an interview with a UK newspaper, The Independent, Singer, now a professor at Princeton University, explains why.
"All I say about severely disabled babies is that when a life is so miserable it is not worth living, then it is permissible to give it a lethal injection. These are decisions that should be taken by parents -- never the state -- in consultation with their doctors."
In any case, he says, this is already happening. "What do people think amniocentesis and the selective abortion of Down's Syndrome foetuses are? All I am saying is, why limit the killing to the womb?
Nothing magical happens at birth... Of course, infanticide needs to be strictly legally controlled and rare -- but it should not be ruled out, any more than abortion."
The controversial utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer has given more ammunition to his critics by firmly endorsing infanticide in a UK newspaper. In an interview with a UK newspaper, The Independent, Singer, now a professor at Princeton University, explains why.
"All I say about severely disabled babies is that when a life is so miserable it is not worth living, then it is permissible to give it a lethal injection. These are decisions that should be taken by parents -- never the state -- in consultation with their doctors."
In any case, he says, this is already happening. "What do people think amniocentesis and the selective abortion of Down's Syndrome foetuses are? All I am saying is, why limit the killing to the womb?
Nothing magical happens at birth... Of course, infanticide needs to be strictly legally controlled and rare -- but it should not be ruled out, any more than abortion."
