Most of us in pediatric practice are aware of the limitations of our understanding of the diverse and ever changing schools of thought in philosophy, psychology, and the social sciences during the last two centuries which have led to a revolutionary change in the importance of the child's role in our social structure. This book will help to overcome these limitations because it offers a broad view of the changes both subtle and profound which have seen the child emerge from an inconsequential member of society to a position of central importance.