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Simon Keller's Special Good Theory

Decent Essays

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

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