Conceptions of Parenthood: Ethics and The FamilyOur parents often have a significant impact on the content of our beliefs, the values we hold, and the goals we pursue and becoming a parent can also have a similar impact on our lives. In Conceptions of Parenthood Michael Austin provides a rigorous and accessible philosophical analysis of the numerous and distinct conceptions of parenthood. Issues considered are the nature and justification of parental rights, the sources of parental obligations, the value of autonomy, and the moral obligations and tensions present within interpersonal relationships. Austin rejects the 'proprietarian', 'best interests of the child', and 'biological' conceptions of parenthood as failing to generate parental rights and obligations but considers more sympathetically the 'custodial relationship', 'consent', and 'causal' conceptions of parenthood and ultimately defends a 'stewardship' conception. Finally Austin explores the 'stewardship' view for practical and moral questions related to family life and social policy regarding the family, such as the education of children, the religious upbringing of children and state licensing of parents. |
Contents
Successful Conceptions of Parenthood | |
Stewardship and Parental Rights | |
Stewardship and Parental Obligations | |
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Common terms and phrases
abuse adults Archard Archie argues argument autonomy become belief best interests biological parents causal causal conception causal role child’s choice Christina Hoff Sommers claim that parents conception of parenthood consent consequentialist consider context custodial relationship decisions Defense of Abortion Edgar Page facie obligations fails father Feldman fetus fundamental interests gamete donors genetic gestational mother given harm human impact important infants insofar intimacy Irvine Jaycee justified LaFollette Montague moral agents moral rights moral status Moreover negative rights obligations of parents offspring one’s child Pamela Snell parental licensing parental obligations parental rights parentchild relationship parents and children parity principle particular person Philosophy pregnancy prima facie problem procreation proprietarian raise reason reject relevant religion religious respect responsible rights and obligations rights of parents significant social society someone special moral obligations steward stewardship view Surrogacy Uma Narayan University Press view of parental weak standard wellbeing