The Politics of Parenting

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing philosophical look at parenting
Review: William Irvine has written an intriguing book exploring our notions and attitudes toward procreation, parenting, and governmental/societial responsibility to children.

As any good philosopher would do Irvine quickly abandons political correctness and engages in a dispassionate critique of Eugenics and argues that it has a proper place, if we operate on the stewardship model of parenting. (Which was developed in detail in Irvine's Doing Right by Children) His arguments are intriguing and well thought out, and at times provocative.

In this section of the book he also explores when government can interfere in reproductive freedoms, and how to do so to ensure the continued viability of society. This section successfully attacks the premise that we should have complete freedom over when to reproduce and with whom.

Irvine then explores licensing parents. While many would instantly balk at interfering with parental freedoms, Irvine provides a sound and reasonable argument for requiring parental licenses, that is sure to leave readers in a quandry.

Irvine's text unfortunately ends on a semi-related chapter on divorce. While his background appears to hold to the stewardship model of parenting in high regard it also feels like an inappropriately muddled reaction to current day political/marital thinking.

Overall Irvine's book provides a provocative starting point for thinking about how children in America are thought of and how they should be thought of.