The book contains contributions from thirteen distinguished moral and political philosophers on the subject of children. These are new essays and are devoted to a subject that until recently has not been extensively discussed by philosophers. Too often philosophers restrict themselves to

the consideration only of the relations between adults. Yet the topic of children is an important one for moral and political philosophy. Recent years have seen an increased concern with the needs and interests of young people. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which

accords a wide range of fundamental rights to children was adopted in 1989 and many states, including the United States and the UK, have subsequently ratified the Convention.

Includes bibliographical references (p.[276]-287) and index.

The book contains contributions from thirteen distinguished moral and political philosophers on the subject of children. These are new essays and are devoted to a subject that until recently has not been extensively discussed by philosophers. Too often philosophers restrict themselves to the consideration only of the relations between adults. Yet the topic of children is an important one for moral and political philosophy. Recent years have seen an increased concern with the needs and interests of young people. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which accords a wide range of fundamental rights to children was adopted in 1989 and many states, including the United States and the UK, have subsequently ratified the Convention.

Introduction, David Archard and Colin M. Macleod

I. Children and Rights

Do Children Have Rights?, James Griffin

What Rights (If Any) Do Children Have?, Harry Brighouse

Children's Choices of Children's Interests: Which Do Their Rights Protect?, Samantha Brennan

Being versus Becoming: A Critical Analysis of the Child in Liberal Theory, Barbara Arneil

II. Autonomy and Education

Special Agents: Children's Autonomy and Parental Authority, Robert Noggle

Autonomy, Child Rearing, and Good Lives, Eamonn Callan

Children, Multiculturalism, and Education, David Archard

Answering Susan: Liberalism, Civic Education, and the Status of Younger Persons, Joe Coleman

III. Children, Families, and Justice

Silver Spoons and Golden Genes: Talent Differentials and Distributive Justice, Hillel Steiner

Equality and the Duties of Procreators, Peter Vallentyne

Liberal Equality and the Affective Family, Colin M. Macleod

What Children Really Need: Towards a Critical Theory of Family Structure, Shelley Burtt

Family, Choice, and Distributive Justice, Veronique Munoz-Darde