In this article, we present findings from an experimental study in reproductive ethics that examines how people think about reproduction and parenthood. Our results show that, although we often take for granted that everyone interprets these concepts—and the links between them—in the same way, this assumption may not hold. For instance, one might expect that if “x is y’s father,” then “y is x’s child” must also be true. Yet our participants did not consistently accept this inference. This suggests that, at a minimum, discussions about reproduction and parenthood require clarity about the specific relationships being referenced. It also indicates the need to investigate more closely the factors that shape or weaken the connections between these concepts. Such work cannot rely solely on theoretical analysis or empirical data, but must draw on a combination of both approaches.
