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A lost cause? Fundamental problems for causal theories of parenthood

A lost cause? Fundamental problems for causal theories of parenthood
A lost cause? Fundamental problems for causal theories of parenthood

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.

causation, children, parental obligation, parenthood, responsibility
0269-9702
664-670
Baron, Teresa Rachel
6cb59f4e-779b-43c2-b260-f6142b965984
Baron, Teresa Rachel
6cb59f4e-779b-43c2-b260-f6142b965984

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

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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.

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Accepted/In Press date: 18 December 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 5 February 2020
Published date: September 2020
Keywords: causation, children, parental obligation, parenthood, responsibility

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 437852
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/437852
ISSN: 0269-9702
PURE UUID: 88d97e22-b8b6-49b2-ab94-0aadd68d05d5

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Date deposited: 20 Feb 2020 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:19

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Author: Teresa Rachel Baron

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