Homework on A Child's Right to an Open Future


You will need to read two readings to answer these questions. You will need to read (part of) Davis, "Genetic dilemmas and the child's right to an open future." Please read at least sections III, IV, and V pp 557-575. Read as well Mills, "The child's right to an open future?"

1. Davis believes that a child has a right to an open future. Please express as clearly as possible, in your own words, what precisely she means by this. Your answer should state her view as a conditional, and then briefly explain what that conditional means. Your conditional should probably look something like this: "If people do ________ then they have done something morally wrong." (1-3 sentences) (2pts)

2. Davis says a number of things which she seems to think support her view about the right to an open future. Which of these is the strongest support for her view, and why? (2-4 sentences) (2pts)

3. Mills disagrees with the view you explained in 1. What is her main argument against this view? (1-3 sentences) (2pts)

4. Mills does not talk about deafness in her paper. What would she say about:
a) a parent who choses a deaf fetus over a hearing fetus? (1pt)
b) a parent who choses to not have their deaf child implanted with a cochlear implant? (1pt)
It may be that she might say different things about different cases of (a) (or different cases of (b)). If so, when would she say this is wrong, and when would she say that it is permissible?

5. Who do you agree with more, Mills or Davis? Explain why (3-4 sentences). (2pts)