Introduction

Abstract

In the introduction we will answer two questions before giving a brief overview of the structure of this book. The questions are: What are our aims and what do we want to achieve? How do we proceed in order to achieve them? Regarding the first question, we will explain that our book is focused on ethics and thus our main aim is an ethical one: we seek to clarify what is morally wrong about the violation of children’s bodily integrity as it happens today in affluent societies. Regarding the second question, we will clarify that, firstly, we need to identify the problem as it presents itself through scientific knowledge, political or public debate, or the articulation of the victims. Then the ethical issues connected to it need to be identified and clarified. What kind of ethically relevant harm is done to children and how does it threaten their well-being/well-becoming and bodily integrity? In order to do so, it is necessary to devote enough space to the specification of the relevant capabilities in order to provide a solid benchmark. In this sense our approach is problem-driven and is open to adapt the normative framework as necessary. Finally, the third task demands that the responsible stakeholders be identified as well as the moral obligations that should be attributed to them by virtue of the criteria of their involvement with the problem, their role in its causation, and their potential to realize justice for the threatened children.