Child Self-Determination and Eudaimonia

Abstract: This paper formalizes Adams' Theory of Child Self-Determination and Eudaimonia, adevelopmental paradigm proposing that optimal human flourishing is achieved through a dualpillar system. Pillar One establishes existential, emotional, and cognitive Security via nonnegotiable Essential Needs—a category expanded here beyond mere physical survival to encompass parental relatability and pedagogical instruction. Pillar Two cultivates Autonomy and Identity through the philosophical evaluation of Reasonable Wants. By interrogating the teleological motives behind a child's individualized desires, Adams' Theory bridges classical philosophy, attachment theory, and modern self-determination theory, offering a rich framework for transforming parenting from arbitrary authority into a practice of relational and moral elevation.