Our parents often have a significant impact on the content of our beliefs, the values we hold, and the goals we pursue and becoming a parent can also have a similar impact on our lives.

In Conceptions of Parenthood Michael Austin provides a rigorous and accessible philosophical analysis of the numerous and distinct conceptions of parenthood. Issues considered are the nature and justification of parental rights, the sources of parental obligations, the value of autonomy, and the moral obligations and tensions present within interpersonal relationships.

Austin rejects the proprietarian, best interests of the child, and biological conceptions of parenthood as failing to generate parental rights and obligations but considers more sympathetically the custodial relationship, consent, and causal conceptions of parenthood and ultimately defends a stewardship conception.

Finally Austin explores the stewardship view for practical and moral questions related to family life and social policy regarding the family, such as the education of children, the religious upbringing of children and state licensing of parents.