Adopting Obligations: Duties to Existing Children

This thesis argues that infertile prospective parents have a moral obligation to adopt rather than pursue ARTs (Assisted Reproductive Technology). The first chapter presents the negative argument against the common desire among prospective parents for a genetically related child. After refuting the five most promising reasons for wanting a biological child, I show that the burden of proof lies with defenders of ARTs to justify their use. In the second chapter I make the moral case in favour of adoption. By drawing an analogy to a standard and incontrovertible duty to aid case, I argue that infertile prospective parents have a duty to adopt. The final chapter justifies limiting the scope of my argument to the infertile. I argue that unlike fertile parents, the infertile who elect to pursue ARTs are clearly willing and able to assume additional costs in order to have a child. Consequently, there is a relevant difference between these two groups that justifies focusing on the latter.

Department dc:contributor.department

Philosophy

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Teeple Hopkins, Morgan

Advisor dc:contributor.supervisor

• Gordon-Solmon, Kerah

• Adoption

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1974/7449

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:queensu.scholaris.ca:1974/7449