Googleニュースで功利主義関連の記事を見るようにしているのだが、最近はシンガーが米国医療保険制度改革の文脈と、貧困救済に関する新しい本の関連でときどき新聞記事になっているようだ。前者では、ほとんど間違いなく悪者として扱われている。たとえば以下。
Now Professor Peter Singer of Princeton, as readers may know, has over the years made some striking remarks on the subject of rationing, which I take to mean the process of rational division of effort and resources under conditions of scarcity. You may be scarce time, or money, or materials, or expertise; but in any case you know that all instances of your problem cannot be attended to equally. You must ration.
The Professor has, for instance, taken time to consider the horrifying rationing into which a man would be forced, in the circumstance of a raging fire that at once threatens (1) a kennel full of beloved dogs, (2) a clinic full of newborns, and (3) an orphanage full of children. Singer would save the dogs. The Professor has also considered the circumstance of a couple, having recently given birth to a disabled child, who must now face the rationing of their time, their resources, and their happiness, that will attend the care of a such a child. Singer believes the couple ought to be able to kill the child. (Singer, Holdren and Rationing)
ほんとにこんなこと書いたことあるのかな。上記サイトからのリンクでは、宗教関連の雑誌が典拠として引かれている。
The abominable Peter Singer has said that, given the choice in a fire to save a kennel full of beloved dogs, a clinic full of newborns, and an orphanage full of unwanted children, he would save the dogs. What a disgusting display of self-justification on the part of whoremaster man. (Notre Madame et le President)
"abominable"とか"whoremaster"とか、形容詞がすごいな。オレもこういう形容詞を付けられないように気をつけよう。
