Abstract
This chapter introduces the themes we explore in the book. When a person is unable to make a decision for herself others need to make the decision on her behalf. This is typically done based on an assessment of what is in that person’s best interests, or what will best promote her welfare. This, we argue, entails an understanding of the Good Life. We argue that the Good Life, properly understood, does not consist in the selfish pursuit of one’s own happiness, but is characterised by altruism, virtue and good relationships.
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Notes
- 1.
Adoption and Children Act 2002, s 1 similarly provides that when a court or adoption agency is coming to a decision relating to the adoption of a child, ‘[T]he paramount consideration … must be the child’s welfare, throughout his life,’ s 1(2). This changed the previous position under the Adoption Act 1976, s 6, by which the child’s welfare was the first, but not the paramount, consideration.
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Foster, C., Herring, J. (2015). Introduction. In: Altruism, Welfare and the Law. SpringerBriefs in Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21605-8_1
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