In Simon Keller’s “FOUR THEORIES OF FILIAL DUTY” the author looks at the question of what obligations a child has to his or her parents. Keller initially examines and critiques three pre - existing theories of filial duty. After outlining the failures associated with these theories, Keller puts forward “the Special Goods Theory” This theory will be the subject of this paper. First I shall offer a summary of what is outlined in the paper and the main arguments Keller offers in support of this theory. I shall argue despite this argument being more concrete than the debt, friendship and gratitude theories, there are still a number of areas where Keller’s argument feels weak. I will be looking at what determines a reciprocal relationship and is the parent child relationship an exclusive relationship Keller begins his theory of special goods by describing how the parent - child relationship is …show more content…
This seems to go against the argument which he has been pushing throughout the essay This makes the argument incredibly myopic. This suggests that once one side of the arrangement is no longer able to contribute to the relationship, filial duties are diminished. This suggests that filial duties are only in place as both parties continue to benefit from the relationship. This seems to suggest that the child only has reciprocal duties so long as the child continues to benefit. This then brings up the case of a parent suffering from dementia or other cognitive issues. The parents existence is no longer of benefit to the child. The parent can not even recognize the child nor do they have any memory of their upbringing of the child, is it still the child obligation to provide medical care to the
To get a full understanding of family theory one must first have the understanding of what is theory. Theory is a systematic collection of concepts and relations. Family however can mean a broad range of things to a person. One person may consider family to be father, mother, sister and brother; however, to someone else family could be just one parent with one child; and to another it could their friends. Family systems theory however defines the family as a system. Family consist of interrelated parts, each impacting the other and adding to each other’s growth (or detriment) of the other. And because family is always changing, growing, self-organizing, and becoming accustomed to each other and the exterior environment (White & Klein, 2008). Now let’s take a look at the
Parenting played a big role in shaping the two boys lives. Having a parental mentor is important because they assist and guide children to take the right decisions about their lives. The author had his two parents at the beginning of his life. Also, the author’s parents, especially his mother, tried to raise him in an effective way wanting him to know the right from wrong at an early age. “No mommy loves you, like I love you, she just wants you to do the right thing” (Moore 11). This quote was a live example of the author’s life with his parents. It reflected the different ways his parents used to teach him “the right thing.” Though his mother was upset from his action toward his sister, his father
What makes the perfect parent? Countless magazines and websites strive to answer the question but often possess differing opinions on what techniques and parenting styles will foster the ideal child. In Chaim Potok’s novel, The Chosen, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders grow up in polar opposite households. While both practice Judaism, their separate sects often highlight differences in their respective upbringings. Literature mimics real life and while reading, I found myself comparing the boys’ friendship to that of my closest friend and I. Despite the drastic divergence between time periods and settings, post-World War II New York and modern day Suburbia, Reuven and Danny mirror my best friend, Abby, and I. Though disputes can arise, contrasting
“No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love.”
In All I asking for is my body, Milton Murayama writes about a family whose entire existence is based on filial piety. This system maintains that children should honor their parents at any cost. For example, Mr. Oyama’s father left his children with a massive debt. He counts on filial piety to pay it back. The Oyamas are honor bound to repay this obligation, which has left them poor and hopeless. This means that Toshio, the eldest son, is expected to take on the debt because of his filial obligation. However, he does not totally buy into this tradition; he believes the debt is not his to repay. Mr. and Mrs. Oyama are traditional Japanese parents who demand filial perfection from Toshio, but he does not always measure up to their standards of filial piety. “How can you be unfilial and not be all bad?”(43) Toshio’s mother says to Kiyoshi. He tries to explain to her that Toshio is not a drunk or a gambler; he is not a braggart or bully or liar; he is not a woman chaser or pool hall bum. (43) Toshio should be considered a filially pious son despite his parents’ criticism since he meets his obligations to repay the debt.
Introduction: Our parents. Our inspirations. Who we look up to. People who could never do wrong. But what would you do if your parents did something so wrong that they could be arrested? Or perhaps they did something unacceptable but you didn’t know anything more? Jeannette Walls deals with this throughout her childhood as represented in The Glass Castle. Her parents challenge the social norms and expectations with their uncommon lifestyle and teachings. While doing so, they put their children in awkward sometimes dangerous predicaments. This causes Jeannette in particular to decide whether she trusts and/or forgive her parents. Despite their questionable actions, Jeannette always finds a way to have love her parents. Jeannette always has to forgive her parents for their mistakes. Of course we love our parents, but how much are we willing to accept them if they aren’t as admirable as they seem. I have a few questions for you guys to think about on this idea. We will discuss the answers to these questions at the end so keep your responses in mind. Would you still love your parents if they convicted a crime? Would you still love your parents if they hurt someone? Would you still love your parents if they weren’t able to provide for you? Would you still love your parents if they lied to you? Would you still love your parents if they stole from you? These are hypothetical situations, but they allow you to think about the unconditional love you have for your parents. Now, why
Usually in society parents are to be blamed for failing to raise their children in the right way. It is very easy for the society to criticize parents when they mistreat their child or not take care of his/her needs and wants. It is easy for a parent to get judged in society comparing to a child because parents are role models for children’s. Even when a child has been mistreated by her/his parent, it is easy for the child to forgive their parents. The reason behind that situation would be a parent’s unconditional love that a child sees, despite what he/she has been through. In the book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, she portraits a situation like that where the character spends her childhood memories with her father. Even though Jeannette’s father Rex Walls was an irresponsible father and failed to protect his children, Jeannette still loved her father dearly.
A parent, by definition, is a mother or father to their offspring. But in reality, a parent’s role is much more significant. A parent is truly someone who spends time with their offspring, loves their offspring, a caregiver, and a nurturer. In Ray Bradbury’s short story, “The Veldt,” Bradbury portrays how meaningful the role of a parent is. Bradbury shows the ups and downs any family may encounter. Bradbury is focuses on the role of the parents, since a parents role can make or break a family’s relationship. Therefore, the author uses the lack of disciplining children, importance of family dynamics, and indulging in material possessions to show the significance of a parent’s role in a family.
Cholly Breedlove, foreign to the idea of the unconditional love a parent provides, was rejected by both his parents. His mother left him on the side of a railroad as an infant and his father, already being absent from the time of his birth, told Cholly, after he has completed in journey in finding his father, to leave because his mother already received money for Cholly’s birth. A parent’s responsibility is to provide the guidance
In the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, by Mark Haddon, Ed Boone is the father of a brilliant boy, Christopher, who has signs of autism or a similar disorder which makes him very particular, and have extremely rigid standards. Ed constantly overworks himself to please Christopher, and make his son feel as comfortable as possible even though Christopher never thanks him. A similar idea is expressed in “Those Winter Sundays”, by Robert Hayden, where a boy reflects on all his father has done for him even though he and his family never acknowledged all of the effort and labor his father put into making them happy, healthy, and free from these labors. Both the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and “Those Winter Sundays” suggest that a parent will go to great lengths for their children's prosperity and comfort even if their children never say thank you.
Families are organized with fathers as the figures in control and the mothers are subordinate to them. Mothers, however, take compete charge of the children, and so from a child’s point of view, mothers appear to be authority figures as well. Children are obligated to respect and obey these authoritative figures. (p. 103)
In this essay I will be comparing “She,” by Matthew Brooks Treacy and the relationship with his mother to my relationship with my father, and the lessons taught through experiences that occurred. My father taught the concept of moral obligation, in a similar fashion to Traecy’s mother teaching him to use his hands, through errands, that influenced my decision to make ethical decisions throughout my life.
In present-day society, families go through several problems and arguments regarding numerous issues which would have been considered unacceptable in past times. Throughout a variety of different cultures, the level of respect and obedience for one’s parents has diminished while the negotiation of conformity and rebellion has risen. This statement is supported and evidential in two different stories, “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. Although these stories represent different cultures, they both exemplify the values and importance of family relations; as well as demonstrate in every culture families face social problems. In both these stories, two major topics stood out which allowed me to compare each one to one
When the children are incapable, nurses have moral responsibility to assist parents in decision making in the children's best interest. "Substituting an adult judgement of what is in a child’s best interest is not necessarily equivalent with the child’s best interest (Coyne and Harder, 2011)." Acting in a child’s best interest requires parents and health professionals to take children's view seriously and give priority consideration to the impact of their decisions on children (Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC). The adults have responsibilities towards their children to enable them in making decision but they do not have rights to make decision for their children (Lowden, 2002). Children should not be viewed as property. The first step in protecting the rights of children as outlined in the CRC is to view them as citizens (Van Daalen-Smith, 2010). When parents claim that the child belongs to them, they are establishing an ownership notion. Children should be respected as active contributor not as passive recipient of the health care (Maconochie and McNeill, 2010). Therefore, parental role in decision making for their children should be complementary not
There are several parenting styles which guide children throughout their life. These parenting styles can be either good or bad and this will have an effect on the child; either a positive or a negative one. This essay investigates the parenting styles from which emerge questions about the role of the mother and the father. It also focuses on the ways that either too much mothering or too much fathering might have an effect on the child’s identity later on in its life.