Steve Pinker discussed in his article Why They Kill Their Newborns, reasons why people kill their babies and how this act has been practiced in most cultures, throughout the years. Women that commit neonaticide, killing their babies or letting them die, are not psychotic, depressed or suicidal, such as women typically are when they kill their older children. These women may be acting out their biological emotions, and that could be as simple as letting the weak die. Desperation is sensed in these women and they very rarely spend any amount of time in jail. Neonaticide is immoral, and it is an immature act, a horrible tragedy.
Bruce Chapman author of “A Modest Proposal: Should we change our minds about Infanticide? criticizes Steve Pinker’s article and appears to disagree with him about neonaticide being a natural instinct. He states that neonaticide is evil and religiously or morally wrong. Understandably, Bruce Chapman feels as if the weak do not have a right to live, that they are like mice. If you are not born with strong survivor skills then you do not have a right to live.
I feel like Neonaticide is immoral and if these women that commit these acts are not psychotic, suicidal or depressed, then they should be sentenced to jail for this crime. These women have a choice that animals such as mice do not have, that choice is to proceed with their pregnancy and give birth. After giving birth, women should be held responsible if they commit neonaticide. I believe these women must have some psychosis to commit this crime.
