Philosophy-Licensing Parents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy-Licensing Parents - Essay Example The process of licensing individuals would inevitably hassle or perhaps devastate individuals seeking to participate in such an activity. However, LaFollette argues that this is the cost of protecting innocent victims from actions that Frisch classifies into four broad categories: (1) risks arising out of ignorance, (2) risks arising through physical or mental incapacity, (3) risks arising from willful misconduct, and (4) risks arising through negligence or inability to exert self-control over behavior (Frisch, 1981, p. 173). LaFollette’s case relies on proving two criteria for regulatory licensing: that â€Å"parenting is an activity potentially very harmful to children† and that â€Å"a parent must be competent if he is to avoid harming his children† (LaFollette, 1980, pp. 184-5). These two claims cannot be disproved: they are clear facts, as both LaFollette and Frisch acknowledge. Frisch also acknowledges the strength of LaFollette’s claim that regulation is â€Å"a fundamental task of any stable society† (Frisch, 1981, p. 173). Nevertheless, the dispute originates from whether parenting is analogous to other activities, or if it can be controlled by regulation. It may be that parenting cannot be modified or changed by any amount government control. LaFollette argues the prior restraint of licensing for drivers or physicians is â€Å"not terribly onerous† but that the â€Å"restricted activity is one which could lead easily to serious harm† (LaFollette, 1980, p. 189). These are the risks (that could happen) Frisch believes societies undertake licensing to reduce. Frisch proceeds to develop, based on his four categories of risks, a non-arbitrary distinction between parenting and other regulated activities. With respect to ignorance, there is no empirical reason to believe that with more knowledge of parenting (knowledge that can be taught descriptively anyway) parents will be more competent to raise a child in the same way