This article analyzes the relationship between population growth and ethical principles relating to poverty. The paper is a critical approach to the thesis presented by Peter Singer in his book "Practical Ethics". The first part briefly examines the principal topics of his thesis. The author then analyzes the basis of Singer's theory with respect to the following questions: 1) Is overpopulation the main reason for poverty? Is it possible to establish an association between the poverty phenomenon and population growth? 2) Is Singer´s demographic perspective valid? 3) Can problems of resource distribution be ignored when talking about poverty from an ethical perspective? 4) Is it true that birth control policy was successfully implemented in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil? 5) Does Singer´s position on population growth have a negative influence on the "collective imagination"? The paper concludes by suggesting some useful arguments for understanding an ethical perspective towards poverty.
Poverty; Population Growth; Birth Control