Shaping Children’s Convictions

Abstract

This article examines the degree to which children are entitled to an autonomy enhancing upbringing of a sort that imposes constraints on the efforts parents can legitimately undertake to shape the religious and moral beliefs of their children. The article describes a conception of child-rearing, called Socratic nurturing, that places emphasis on raising children in ways that facilitate the development of robust powers of critical reflection. It is argued that the well-being of children is well-served by Socratic nurturing and that children have a right to Socratic nurturing. The article addresses and rebuts some objections to attributing such a right to children.