Open AccessA Rational Theory of the Rights of Children
Author(s) -
Ian Hersum
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
studia humana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2299-0518
DOI - 10.2478/sh-2020-0012
Subject(s) - champion , libertarianism , instinct , foundation (evidence) , law and economics , law , state (computer science) , order (exchange) , laissez faire , political science , sociology , epistemology , philosophy , economics , finance , algorithm , evolutionary biology , computer science , biology
Libertarianism has often found itself under attack from those with misplaced maternal instincts, who champion the state as the honorable protector of the vulnerable – and there is no one more in need of protection than a helpless infant. Consequently, much of the vitriol aimed at libertarianism and its laissez-faire attitude has included morbid references to child abuse and exploitation which would supposedly result from its implementation. It is therefore imperative that more work be done on the topic of children’s rights in order to reinforce the philosophical framework developed by Murray Rothbard [9] and expanded on by Walter Block and others [2], [3], [5], [6]. The purpose of this paper is to provide an independent rational foundation for the conclusions drawn by Block and co-authors [2], [5] and to expand on parts that are insufficient.