In Harriet Johnson's essay Unspeakable Conversation, she wants her readers to know even though she has a physical handicap and she is unable to do many daily activities that we take for granted, she is still a human being. Because of her disablity it didn't hinder her intellectually which was proven during her debate with professor Singer for Princeton University.
Singer believe that a parents should kill their unborn child once they find out there is physically or mental issues. He wanted to legalize the killing of certain babies who are born with phyically handicap. I feel who has the right to give someone the authority or choice to say if a child should be born. There are many people who have phyical disability who function extremally well.
I'm aware some parents have been give the option to abort the fetus if there are complications which cause a thread to the life of the unborn. But under normal circumstances most parents are excited once they have concieved a new life.
Singers argument my be strong for some people, but I'm not in agreement.
It is definitely a difficult argument to think about. I have read some more about his position and it seems to be based on the logic of what decision would create the most happiness for all interested parties. So, if killing a disabled baby -before he or she is aware of his or her existence, as Singer argues babies of a certain age are not- allows for a better life and more happiness for the parents and healthy siblings, then it should be ok for it to be done. It is difficult for me, however, to reason about an infant in such removed terms. However, I have never experienced some of the extreme circumstances he may be referring to. On the other hand, he uses a hemophiliac child as an example and that seems not to be the level of extreme I was thinking of (so sick and disabled that there is a slim chance the child would live long and have any awareness). It's just an uncomfortable and difficult topic. What do you think about how Harriet McBryde Johnson handled him and did anything surprise you in the essay?
ReplyDeleteIn the essay it showed how well versed Harriet McBryde Johnson was with her information. Especially coming from a person who has the phyical handicapp. I'm not in agreement with Princeton Professor at all. I don't believe in killing a baby because of his phyical or mental conditions. I have worked with students with phyical and learning disablities, I've learned that each one learns differently and they just need someone to be patient with them, no one is perfect and I feel everyone has some kind of inperfection, that just the way we were all made.
ReplyDelete