Motherhood - Philosophy for Everyone

Book excerpt: MOTHERHOOD PHILOSOPHY FOR EVERYONE If you have ever wondered what makes a “good” or a “bad” mother, or if mothers are always right in thinking their babies are beautiful, or indeed, whether mother always knows best, look no further. Without a single nag, Motherhood – Philosophy for Everyone covers these salient philosophical issues, and more, including: The anticipation of impending parenthood compared with the reality Should we tell the occasional lie to our children? What does the Bible actually say about the virgin birth? If we were able to turn our children off, would and should we be tempted by this option? The experience of lesbian mothering The unexpected challenges and complications of being a mother “As in any group of thinkers, some mothers are more ambitiously reflective than others, either out of temperamental thoughtfulness, moral and political concerns, or, most often, because they have serious problems with their children. However, maternal thinking is no rarity. Maternal work itself demands that mothers think...” From Maternal Thinking: Toward A Politics of Peace, Sara Ruddick