A lost cause? Fundamental problems for causal theories of parenthood

Baron, Teresa

Abstract

In this paper, I offer a critique of (actual and possible) causal theories of parenthood. I do not offer a competing account of who incurs parental obligations and why; rather, I aim to show that there are fundamental problems for any account of who acquires parental obligations and why by appeal to causal responsibility for a child’s existence. I outline and justify three criteria that any plausible causal account of parental obligation must meet, and demonstrate that attempting to fulfil all three criteria simultaneously will give rise to one or both of two potentially insurmountable dilemmas.

Citation

Baron, T. (2020). A lost cause? Fundamental problems for causal theories of parenthood. Bioethics, 34(7), 664-670. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12719

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Feb 5, 2020
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2024
• Journal: Bioethics
• Print ISSN: 0269-9702
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-8519
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 664-670
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.12719
• Keywords: Health Policy; Philosophy; Health (social science); causation, children, parental obligation, parenthood, responsibility
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33028302
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bioe.12719
• Additional Information: Received: 2019-08-01; Accepted: 2019-12-18; Published: 2020-02-05