Whose Child?

de William Aiken, Hugh Lafollette

An exploration of the moral status of children. Are children just the property of parents -- to do with as they please? Or are there moral limits on what parents can do? Few think parents can legitimately abuse their children. And most think the state can curb and even punish such abuse. (Although there is considerable disagreement about what constitutes 'abuse'). Here agreement diverges. Can parents brainwash their kids to accept beliefs and views . . . especially ones that might curtail the child's ability to function as an adult? This anthology includes a number of popular discussions, along with a number of essays by ethicists. Each discusses aspects of this debate.