Can one (a mother?) have an ethical relationship with an infant?

Essay from the year 2000 in the subject Sociology - Relationships and Family, grade: A, University of Illinois at Chicago, course: Feminist Theory, language: English, abstract: This Essay refers to the thoughts of Cynthia Willett and Daryl Koehn. Both feminist authors have developed ethical theories. As basis I shall take Willett with her thoughts about the relationship of mother and infant. Further, I will discuss if Koehn's concept of the dialectical dialogue is useful for an ethical mother-infant relationship. A lot of problems arise during this discussion, set up in questions, which are not answerable quickly. They have to be left open. The mother shall be a metaphor for a caregiver in general. Working with both theories the essay is divided in three parts. In the first I tried to work very systematically, like Koehn does but work on Willett's thoughts. The second refers to Koehn and in the third I will connect them. The question is, how far both theories can be connected. I will start with definition of ethic: a believe system about moral principles concerning right and wrong. What is an infant? Infants are babies in there first 4 weeks after birth. It is the period in which the baby has to adapt to the world after being in the mother s body. I dispense with the need to say, that it becomes an independent person. Of cause the infant depends on care, somebody who feeds her/him and fulfill her/his desire. To consider as well, is that the embryo is even dependent in the uterus and connected with the umbilical cord; but the membrane of the placenta already makes two individuals. A lot of biological adaptations proceed in these four weeks, i.e. the hormone system has to learn to work on its own.