Peter Singer and the Jump from Abortion to “Practical Ethics”

“Nothing magical happens at birth,” so says ethicist Peter Singer in his recent interview with the UK Independent. He’s correct in this sense of course, but while his leap from abortion to infantacide might trouble some, Singer is quick to call this “mere sentimentality.”

Senimentality or not, I had always know Peter Singer’s philosophy to be bereft of moral value, but at least now it can be seen for its hideous lack of mercy:

“He continues, ‘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.’ This is, he believes, 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.’ It is a small step, he seems to think, from abortion to infanticide. ‘Of course, infanticide needs to be strictly legally controlled and rare – but it should not be ruled out, any more than abortion.’

I feel slightly uncomfortable, but Singer tries to assure me that this is mere sentimentality. He reminds me that, already, few doctors struggle to save anencephalic babies (those born with only a brain stem and no upper brain) or those with spina bifida. It is not a long journey to Singer’s ethics of putting them – and a handful of others – out of their misery.”