The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

I have been stimulated by the responses in this Colloquy. As a Princeton graduate, I read articles about Professor Singer and numerous "letters to the editor" in the Princeton Alumni Weekly. While browsing the Princeton net, I found a lecture at www.Princeton.edu/WebMedia/ (I encourage everyone to go to this site and listen to the debate) where Peter Singer debated Adrienne Asch a renowned bioethicist from Wellesley. This piqued my interest and I read Singer's book, Life and Death. I came to the conclusion that most (but not all) of his critics including some of the writers in this debate, have not read his books, articles, have not heard him speak and have obtained most of their information from snippets in the Newspapers.

He began his lecture by stating that he was a Philosopher who was arguing from a non-religious viewpoint. He continued with the question, "Why is it more wrong to kill an innocent human being as opposed to killing a non-human being?" He stated that it was, but the reasoning is not so simple. He subsequently discussed the question "What is a person?" followed by problems dealing with disabled infants. I encourage all of you to listen to this debate.

Lastly, one issue I am sure of. Peter Singer has no interest in making these decisions where disabled infants are concerned. The best individuals are the parents. He is a philosopher and one must see him in that light.

: -- Jerome L. Haym, M.D. (posted 3/13, 10:50 a.m., E.S.T.)

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