The Moral and Political Status of Children

These are new essays and are devoted to a subject that until recently has not been extensively discussed by philosophers. Too often philosophers restrict themselves to the consideration only of the relations between adults. Yet the topic of children is an important one for moral and political philosophy. Recent years have seen an increased concern with the needsand interests of young people. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which accords a wide range of fundamental rights to children was adopted in 1989 and many states have subsequently ratified the Convention.In this context it is timely and appropriate to ask various questions. If children do not have rights what exactly is their moral status? If they do have rights do they have all the rights that adults have? What rights if any do parents have over children and what is their justification? What duties do parents have towards their own children and towards others in society? How should we educate those who will be the future citizens and workers of our society? What values and what dispositionsof character is it appropriate to instil in children? Is the family an obstacle to the realisation of full social justice? Can we in pursuit of justice contemplate the abolition of the family? The book covers the themes of children's rights, parental rights and duties, the family and justice, andcivic education.The book contains contributions from thirteen distinguished moral andpolitical philosophers on the subject of children. These are new essays and aredevoted to a subject that until recently has not been extensively discussed byphilosophers. Too often philosophers restrict themselves to the considerationonly of the relations between adults. Yet the topic of children is an importantone for moral and political philosophy. Recent years have seen an increasedconcern with the needs and interests of young people. The United NationsConvention on the Rights of the Child which accords a wide range of fundamentalrights to children was adopted in 1989 and many states, including the UnitedKingdom and the United States of America, have subsequently ratified theConvention.In this context it is timely and appropriate to ask various questions. Ifchildren do not have rights what exactly is their moral status? If they do haverights do they have all the rights that adults have? What rights if any doparents have over children and what is their justification? What duties doparents have towards their own children and towards others in society? Howshould we educate those who will be the future citizens and workers of oursociety? What values and what dispositions of character is it appropriate toinstil in children? Is the family an obstacle to the realisation of full socialjustice? Can we in pursuit of justice contemplate the abolition of the family?The book covers the themes of children's rights, parental rights and duties, thefamily and justice, and civic education.... anyone interested in tackling the philosophical issues concerning children and parents would do well to consult this book.Each chapter in this volume makes a significant contribution to the literature on children's rights. It should be considered essential reading for anyone seriously concerned with the complex issues surrounding the moral and legal status of children.... essential reading ... The book adds to the literature by moving certain debates forward, with more nuanced and often more challenging considerations of children's rights and autonomy.... provides a provocative philosophical contribution to the present theorization on children's rights. It is useful because, in a time when policy-wise children's rights are gaining increasing dominance, it presents perspectives that suggest potential theoretical and practical deficits. The presentation of different arguments helps to refine the reader's own views, whatever his or her theoretical or policy position.The moral and political status of children and the rights and duties of parents are subjects that have enjoyed renewed political and philosophical interest in recent years, and this collection addresses the principal questions with admirable clarity and subtlety.David Archard and Colin M. Macleod: Introduction I. Children and Rights James Griffin: Do Children Have Rights? Harry Brighouse: What Rights (If Any) Do Children Have? Samantha Brennan: Children's Choices of Children's Interests: Which Do Their Rights Protect? Barbara Arneil: Being versus Becoming: A Critical Analysis of the Child in Liberal Theory II. Autonomy and Education Robert Noggle: Special Agents: Children's Autonomy and Parental Authority Eamonn Callan: Autonomy, Child Rearing, and Good Lives David Archard: Children, Multiculturalism, and Education Joe Coleman: Answering Susan: Liberalism, Civic Education, and the Status of Younger Persons III. Children, Families, and Justice Hillel Steiner: Silver Spoons and Golden Genes: Talent Differentials and Distributive Justice Peter Vallentyne: Equality and the Duties of Procreators Colin M. Macleod: Liberal Equality and the Affective Family Shelley Burtt: What Children Really Need: Towards a Critical Theory of Family Structure Veronique Munoz-Darde: Family, Choice, and Distributive JusticeThe book contains original essays by distinguished moral and political philosophers on the topic of the moral and political status of children. It covers the themes of children's rights, parental rights and duties, the family and justice, and civic education.The book contains contributions from thirteen distinguished moral and political philosophers on the subject of children. These are new essays and are devoted to a subject that until recently has not been extensively discussed by philosophers. Too often philosophers restrict themselves to the consideration only of the relations between adults. Yet the topic of children is an important one for moral and political philosophy. Recent years have seen an increased concern with the needs and interests of young people. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which accords a wide range of fundamental rights to children was adopted in 1989 and many states, including the United States and the UK, have subsequently ratified the Convention.