Moral Equality, Bioethics, and the Child

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. An Outline of the Debate on Moral Equality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 3-19

   3. The Debate About Moral Equality

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 21-41

3. The Theoretical Framework of a Moral-Equality Approach

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 43-43

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   2. Natality

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 45-58

   3. Trust

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 59-71

   4. Family

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 73-86

   5. Autonomy

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 87-102

4. A Moral-Equality Approach to Childhood and Other Situations of Dependency

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. The Dialectic of Trust and Autonomy

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 105-129

   3. Basic Concepts for Clinical Practice

      • Claudia Wiesemann

      Pages 131-151

5. Back Matter

   Pages 153-155

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Presenting real life cases from clinical practice, this book claims that children can be conceived of as moral equals without ignoring the fact that they still are children and in need of strong family relationships. Drawing upon recent advances in childhood studies and its key feature, the ‘agentic child’, it uncovers the ideology of adultism which has seeped into much what has been written about childhood ethics. However, this book also critically examines those positions that do accord moral equality to children but on grounds not strong enough to support their claim. It lays the groundwork for a theory of moral equality by assessing the concepts of parenthood, family, best interest, paternalism, and, above all, autonomy and trust which are so important in envisioning what we owe the child. It does not only show how children – like adults – should be considered moral agents from infancy but also how ethical theories addressing adults can significantly profit from recognizing this. The analysis takes into account contributions from European as well as American scholars and makes use of a wide range of ethical, psychological, cultural, and social-scientific research.

• autonomy and trust of the child
• bioethics and the child
• child rights
• conceptions of parenthood
• education and moral self
• moral adultism
• moral equality
• moral status of the child
• natality and the concept of parenthood
• philosophy of change
• radical openness and radical determination
• the essence of parenthood
• the ethics of parenthood
• the stewardship model
• welfare rights of the child

“Claudia Wiesemann's book, Moral Equality, Bioethics, and the Child (2016), is extremely relevant and important. … The reader is taken through a theoretical, practical and emotional journey that brings together ethical and bio-ethical dilemmas from the perspectives of both the child and the adult. … Wiesemann’s innovative and revolutionary moral equality approach invites not only parents, bioethicists, and healthcare professionals but also anyone who seeks to live in a moral society to adopt and practice its ideas.” (Limor Meoded Danon, Bioethical Inquiry, Vol. 16, 2019)

“In an era of complicated pediatric bioethical dilemmas due to technological advances, this book is a meaningful contribution to the debate about how much decision-making power a child should have in his or her medical treatment. … it is clear that she intends to reach readers interested in pediatric bioethics. This would include … ethics students, pediatric fellows and physicians, and clinical ethicists.” (Jacob Harrison, Doody's Book Reviews, January, 2017)

• Dept. Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, Goettingen University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany

  Claudia Wiesemann

Claudia Wiesemann is head of the department of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine at Goettingen University, Germany, and member of the German National Ethics Council. She studied medicine and philosophy and has been doing research in bioethics for more than 20 years. She directed several international research projects within the European Research Framework Program. Claudia Wiesemann is editor of the Journal “Ethik in der Medizin” and member of the International Network on Ethics of Family. Her interests are childhood ethics as well as the ethics of reproductive medicine and family. 

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