Final answer:
Infanticide has been historically practiced for various reasons, including socio-economic factors and cultural preferences. The Greeks are one historical example where unwanted children were subject to infanticide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, it was thought that infanticide occurred primarily as a form of post-birth population control or as a response to the child's potential future quality of life standards. This perception has some truth, as in ancient cultures like the Greeks, infanticide was practiced with children they did not want to raise, often due to economic reasons, deformities, or being of the undesired sex. However, the reasons for infanticide are complex and varied, including but not limited to social, cultural, economic factors, and in some cases, beliefs surrounding honor or superstition.
An example from modern times is the effect of population control policies, which, in some places, has led to gender-based infanticide due to cultural preferences for male children. This is indicative not only of resource-based decision-making but also of deeply ingrained cultural norms. It is essential to understand that infanticide is a multifaceted issue that cannot be reduced to a single cause and is deeply interwoven with societal values and norms.
Moreover, discussing such sensitive ethical issues raises broader questions about morality and the universality of ethical codes. The condemnation of acts like infanticide depends on cultural beliefs, but there is an ongoing debate on whether there is a universally valid code of conduct across different societies and historical periods.