Doing Right by Children: Reflections on the Nature of Childhood and the Obligations of Parenthood

by William B. Irvine

Doing Right by Children begins with an examination of the concept of childhood and how this concept has changed over the centuries. Once treated as a form of property were created out of a family's need for labor, by 1950, American parents had come to think of themselves as stewards looking out for the best interests of their children. In the 1960s, though, the status of children began to decline, as parents grew increasingly reluctant to put the interests of their children ahead of their own desires. Doing Right by Children investigates various ethical issues regarding the parent/child relationship. Among the questions it attempts to answer are these: What kind of upbringing do parents owe their children? What are the proper goals of parenting? How would we structure families if our primary interest were the well-being of children? Doing Right by Children offers a spirited defense of the stewardship model of parenting. It challenges the now-commonplace view that the freedom of parents-to pursue, for example career or sexual fulfillment-should not be sacrificed to the interests of their children.

Genres: Nonfiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

William B Irvine is professor of philosophy at Wright State University. The author of seven books, including A Guide to the Good Life, he has also written for the Huffington Post, Salon, Time, and the BBC. He lives in Dayton, Ohio.