The article addresses an ethical dilemma faced by a person who runs a Little Free Library in their front yard. While they encourage diverse book sharing and promote free access to ideas, they have encountered several creationist books that contradict scientific understanding, which raises the question of whether they should remove these texts. The Ethicist, Kwame Anthony Appiah, argues that private individuals can choose the content they distribute, distinguishing between private libraries and public ones that have different obligations to uphold free expression. He believes it's acceptable for the individual to curate their library by removing creationist books while acknowledging the importance of children being exposed to a variety of perspectives. Additionally, the article contemplates the broader issue of parental discretion in allowing children to explore literature that they may find inappropriate or objectionable.

Key Points:

• The individual runs a Little Free Library and faces ethical concerns about creationist books being included.
• There is a distinction between private libraries (like a Little Free Library) and public or school libraries regarding content choices.
• Appiah advocates for a permissive approach to allowing children to engage with various ideas to foster critical thinking.
• The individual is permitted to remove religious texts promoting anti-scientific views from their library.
• The article discusses parental discretion in controlling children's access to certain literature while emphasizing the need for exposure to diverse perspectives.
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