Even though it was written over 100 years ago, Bertrand Russell's
Marriage and Morals still makes more sense to me than other arguments about the nature of this institution.
In brief, Russell argues that marriage as an institution exists for the rearing of children, not for the sexual convenience of adults. Therefore, to get married, the bride would have to prove she is pregnant. Shotgun weddings would be the only ones allowed!
One could expand this to include adoptions. The book got him barred from entering the U.S. for a lecture tour. And we'd create another institutional, legal arrangement for "consenting adults" who are not raising children, which would have nothing to do with sexual orientation.
Talk about being ahead of your time!
1 comment:
Because of your reading here, I ordered the book; received it a week ago. You see, whatever direction US goes, Saudi eventually follows with a 50 year difference! So this early argument about marriage and morals is very relevant and so far I'm liking the book.
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