 Brownlee argues that, because “when we are deprived of adequate social connections … we tend to break down mentally, emotionally, and physically” (2016a: 55), we have rights to the provision of those personal relationship goods that make minimally adequate lives possible. A group of personal relationship goods that has obvious instrumental value are those realized in very close caring relationships. It is difficult to dispute that some such goods, including affection, companionship, emotional care, attention, encouragement and so on contribute to other aspects of individuals’ wellbeing. More controversially, Matthew Liao argues—relying on empirical sources—that lack of love threatens the physical, psychological and social development of children and therefore entitles them to love (Liao 2006, 2015; Cowden 2012a). (The alleged duty to love children is more fully discussed in  section 4).