In a now-classic essay, one of the world’s preeminent thinkers, the ethicist Hugh LaFollette, argued that parents should be licensed before having kids.
In short, the government issues licenses for activities that pose significant risk or impact to society, such as driving a car or owning a gun, but not to birth children? Does that make sense?
Read LaFollette’s classic work here. Then tell us what you think:
- Is LaFollette right?
- Are there ways we can ensure better family planning short of licensing?
- Is the idea of licensing more urgent now, when family planning will most decide our impact on the environment. the gap between rich and poor, and whether democracy survives into the future?
- What would the ideal system of ensuring parental preparedness look like?
Share your thoughts on the idea of licensing parents at [email protected].
