Libertarianism and potential agents - a libertarian view of the moral rights of foetuses and children

The essay develops a libertarian theory of moral rights, and argues that it can respond effectively to some serious objections that have been raised against libertarianism. Those of us who endorse some version of libertarianism are challenged to explain how our theory can accommodate arguments for children's rights to certain physical integrity and aid. I defend strong moral rights of human, pre-natal organisms, infants and children against all agents to certain non-interference with their physical integrity. I also argue that parents' moral obligation to aid their offspring is an implication of a moral principle that prohibits agents to actively harm rights-bearers. Since this is the core principle of all versions of libertarianism, the libertarian theory defended in this essay gains from its simplicity and coherence.