What gives someone a moral right to parent? What role should the liberal state play in the creation of families? Are prospective parents allowed to create a child in a world facing a changing climate and full of parentless children? In this book, Luara Ferracioli defends a new theory of the moral right to parent by focusing on the special role of parents in creating the conditions for the flourishing of their children irrespective of whether there is a biological connection between them, and by explaining why the parent-child relationship remains valuable even after the child reaches the age of majority. Ferracioli also argues that although procreative and adoptive parenting enjoy equal moral standing, justice towards children requires that the liberal state make adoption more desirable and feasible for its citizens. Finally, the book provides a partial theory of childrearing which focuses on the goods of childhood that parents are primarily responsible for fostering: carefreeness, enjoyment-driven or curiosity-driven achievement, and friendship.

"Luara Ferracioli is a leading philosopher on the ethics and philosophy of procreation, parenting, and childhood. In Parenting and the Goods of Childhood, she offers a thought-provoking analysis of the questions and dilemmas raised in this field. Anyone interested in these matters will learn a lot by reading Ferracioli's work." - Prof. Dr. Ingrid Robeyns, Utrecht University

"Ferracioli directs our attention to neglected issues in procreative ethics, and provides keen insights and novel arguments regarding both parent and child interests. An important, engrossing read." - Rivka Weinberg, Professor of Philosophy, Scripps College

"...an impressive and stimulating read." - Ethics