Salon.Com published an interview of philosopher Peter Singer conducted by freelancer Viktor Frolke. Singer is, to my mind, one of the most noxious human beings to hold such a prestigious academic position, and he confirms that view in this interview. Of particular relevance to this site is Singer’s views on sex-selective abortion.
Most people who are in favor of abortion are generally either in favor or opposed to allowing sex selective abortion. Singer is the first person I’ve come across to argue that it is okay to selectively abort boys, but not okay to selectively abort girls.
Frolke: What would not be a perfectly good reason for an abortion?
Singer: There’s a difference between early and late abortions. If you have a late abortion, where the fetus might feel pain, then I think you should have a good reason. Because then you’re inflicting pain. As you go through the third trimester, you need to have more serious reasons to end a pregnancy. For instance, I would not support ending a pregnancy only because you want a boy and you’re going to get a girl, because it would reinforce sex discrimination. But if you already have two boys and you want a girl, that could be enough reason for abortion.
I would think sex selective abortion is moral or immoral independently of the putative sex of the fetus and/or the number of siblings of any given sex the potential child would have. Leave it to an esteemed philosopher to set me straight.
Source:
“Professor Death”. Viktor Frolke, Salon.Com, June 25, 2001.