Families of Virtue : Confucian and Western Views on Childhood Development

"Families of Virtue" reads a range of thinkers and scientists, from ancient Greek and Chinese philosophers to contemporary feminist ethicists and attachment theorists, to articulate the critical role of the parent-child relationship in the moral development of infants and children. Arguing that philosophy can support our best empirical findings to shape effective policy, this book seeks to strengthen families, help raise happier children, and successfully address current moral problems. Early Confucian philosophers argue that the general ethical sensibilities we develop during infancy and early childhood form the basis for nearly every virtue and that the parent-child relationship is the primary context within which this growth occurs. Joining these views with scientific work on early childhood, the text shows how an extensive body of research in Western psychology can bolster and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought. Confucian philosophers can therefore help promote positive social and political change in our time, particularly in such surprising areas as paid parental leave, breastfeeding initiatives, marriage counseling, and family therapy. Families of Virtue articulates the critical role of the parent-child relationship in the moral development of infants and children. Building on thinkers and scientists across time and disciplines, from ancient Greek and Chinese philosophers to contemporary feminist ethicists and attachment theorists, this book advances an effective approach for strengthening families and the character of children. Early Confucian philosophers argue that the general ethical sensibilities we develop during infancy and early childhood form the basis for nearly every virtue and that the parent-child relationship is the primary context within which this growth occurs. Joining these views with scientific work on early childhood, Families of Virtue shows how Western psychology can reinforce and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought and how Confucian philosophers can affect positive social and political change in our time, particularly in such areas as paid parental leave, breastfeeding initiatives, marriage counseling, and family therapy. Book jacket Families of Virtue articulates the critical role of the parent–child relationship in the moral development of infants and children. Building on thinkers and scientists across time and disciplines, from ancient Greek and Chinese philosophers to contemporary feminist ethicists and attachment theorists, this book takes an effective approach for strengthening families and the character of children. Early Confucian philosophers argue that the general ethical sensibilities we develop during infancy and early childhood form the basis for nearly every virtue and that the parent–child relationship is the primary context within which this growth occurs. Joining these views with scientific work on early childhood, Families of Virtue shows how Western psychology can reinforce and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought and how Confucian philosophers can affect positive social and political change in our time, particularly in such areas as paid parental leave, breastfeeding initiatives, marriage counseling, and family therapy. This book sets out the critical role of the parent-child relationship in the moral development of infants and children. It builds on the work of thinkers and scientists—from ancient Greek and Chinese philosophers to contemporary feminist ethicists and attachment theorists—and sets out an effective approach for strengthening families and the character of children. It shows how early Confucian philosophers argued that the general ethical sensibilities we develop during infancy and early childhood form the basis for nearly every virtue and that the parent-child relationship is the primary context within which this growth occurs. Joining these views with scientific works on early childhood, the book shows how Western psychology can reinforce and renew the theoretical underpinnings of Confucian thought. It also shows how Confucian philosophers can affect positive social and political change in our time, particularly in areas such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding initiatives, marriage counselling and family therapy Content: What did early Confucian philosophers think about parent-child relationships, early childhood, and moral cultivation? -- Moral cultivation, filial piety, and the good society in classical Confucian philosophy -- Infants, children, and early Confucian moral cultivation -- How are early Confucian views of parent-child relationships, early childhood, and moral cultivation distinctive, compared with views in the history of Western philosophy? -- Parents, children, and moral cultivation in traditional Western philosophy -- Feminist and Confucian perspectives on parents, children, and moral cultivation -- Why do Confucian views of the relationship between parent-child relationships, early childhood, and moral cultivation warrant serious consideration, and what can they contribute to our understanding of these areas? -- Early childhood development and evidence-based approaches to parents, children, and moral cultivation -- The humanities at work: Confucian resources for social and policy change. This study sets out the critical role of the parent-child relationship in the moral development of infants and children. Building on the work of thinkers and scientists it sets out an effective approach for strengthening families and the character of children. It shows how early Confucian philosophers argued that the general ethical sensibilities we develop during infancy and early childhood form the basis for nearly every virtue and that the parent-child relationship is the primary context within which this growth occurs Erin M. Cline is associate professor of comparative ethics in the Department of Theology at Georgetown University, where she teaches Chinese and comparative philosophy and religion. She is also the author of Confucius, Rawls, and the Sense of Justice. SOC026010,Social Science/Sociology/Marriage & Family,PHI003000,Philosophy/Eastern/General Shows How Western Psychology Can Reinforce And Renew The Theoretical Underpinnings Of Confucian Thought About Children And The Family.