Parents, the State, and the Care Rights of Children: Good Enough Parenting

This Palgrave Pivot considers what kind of care--adequate, good or best-- can be expected of primary caregivers. It is suggested that parents are morally obliged to promote their child’s wellbeing, and that the care they owe to their children counts as a moral duty. But it is also argued that there is no moral obligation to supply the best possible care. A duty to provide best care would limit parents’ own rights to an unreasonable extent. It is recognized that it is tempting to take extreme measures to promote all the interests of a child, to embrace their needs as reflected in the right to best care - such actions arise from concern and love for the child. But the case is made that certain expectations are unreasonable, such as parents staying together, and presumably being unhappy, so that a child will be more comfortable.

The book’s final chapter considers the question of state enforcement.

Parents, the State, and the Care Rights of Children is essential reading for all scholars and advanced students of jurisprudence, the philosophy of law and social philosophy.

Danielle Levitan is a Postdoctoral Fellow, Philosophy Department, University of Basel.