When high human and social capital parents read to their kids at night, they’re giving their kids yet another advantage in life over low human and social capital kids whose parents don’t read to them. Adam Swift wonders if that might be problematic, and whether that might be reason to abstain from reading to your children at night. Of course, he’s more deeply interested in the question of whether it’s morally problematic to give our kids other, bigger advantages.

Let’s put aside for a moment the question of whether morality requires this kind of impartiality from us, or requires us to put concerns of luck-egalitarian justice over family bonds. Even then, there’s a problem: Generally speaking, other people’s talents are a bonus to us, not a threat. When we think narrowly about competing with them for the current stock of jobs or college spots, they sure seem a threat. But when we think long-term, we see that most of us tend to benefit dramatically from other people’s greater human and social capital. This isn’t some Randian point; it’s Ricardo. For more, see this post arguing that designer babies are a good thing, even if only the rich can afford them.