What determines parenthood? The advent of IVF and the rapid growth of reproductive technologies have challenged the significance historically associated with biological relationships. It is now possible for a child to have many different people in the role of genetic, gestational, nurturing or legal parent and for the formation of many novel types of families. While frequently some or all of these roles are combined, it is now possible for someone to be a ‘parent’ in one sense, without necessarily taking on the obligations and rights associated with parenthood in a moral sense. Despite the expanded options for constructing families and the proliferation of novel arrangements for raising children, the essential feature of what it means to be a ‘real parent’ and to have a child of ‘one’s own’ is often grounded in the transmission of genes. This thesis examines the claim that genes define ‘moral’ parenthood. It investigates whether or not genetic relatedness is morally weighty in determining which individuals incur obligations for and rights over children. My thesis adopts a novel approach to address this question. It combines the analysis of both people’s views as captured through a qualitative study and those found in philosophical literature relating to the moral significance of genetic parenthood. I design and conduct a study to capture more directly the meanings that people attach to passing on their genes, which acts as a starting point for identifying and evaluating possible arguments about the moral relevance of genetic parenthood. I then analyse the principles imbedded in the participants’ views in light of the current philosophical literature.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245601 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Fuscaldo, Giuliana Fausta |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Terms and Conditions: Copyright in works deposited in the University of Melbourne Eprints Repository (UMER) is retained by the copyright owner. The work may not be altered without permission from the copyright owner. Readers may only, download, print, and save electronic copies of whole works for their own personal non-commercial use. Any use that exceeds these limits requires permission from the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from these works., Open Access |
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