Polygamy and Polyandry?

[ClueLis]

I recently had an essay assigned in a political theory class I'm taking (I already handed it in--so don't flame me for asking this as if I wanted you to do the assignment for me) and I'm curious as to the reaction you guys would post.

The basic question is, should marriages of more than two people be allowed? I'm not necessarly referring to the Mormon standard, but rather in a more abstract form. I'm interested less in people's opinions of polygamy and polyandry themselves and more in whether or not they think a government should be able to restrict such marriages.

 

[PrinceofWands]

That's an exceptionally difficult question/task to undertake. I envy you actually, so many choices of how to proceed with it.

The question shouldn't be if government could restrict poly marriages, the question has to be if government can have ANY involvement in 'marriage' at all. I mean, is marriage a political, religious, or personal institution. What a fascinating question. The obvious answer is that marriage is religious (usually performed by holy men, etc), but that entirely ignores concepts such as taxation, insurance, estates, justices of the peace, nautical law, etc.

My own personal belief is that marriage is 100% a personal thing, and has nothing whatsoever to do with religion or government. However, I've never really thought enough about it to realize that I should then feel responsible to seek political change with regards to taxation, insurance, and such. It seems unconcionable (sp?) to me that I have promoted the privacy and independence of marriage with regards to same sex union, religious interfearance etc....but never once considered the responsibility inherent in that belief. Hmmmm, go figure.

You've given me a lot to think about...I'm definately going to watch this thread closely, though I'm almost certain you'll have three main sides:

marriage is an institution of god and poly's are damned

marriage is an institution of the government and as such we are but serfs to aristocratic/capital controls, shame on us for suggesting costly changes to political infrastructure that might diminish the personal wealth of 1%

marriage? why the hell would anyone want to get married??!! Oh well, do whatever you want, doesn't affect me.


Kristin

 

[ClueLis]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands
I'm definately going to watch this thread closely, though I'm almost certain you'll have three main sides:

marriage is an institution of god and poly's are damned

marriage is an institution of the government and as such we are but serfs to aristocratic/capital controls, shame on us for suggesting costly changes to political infrastructure that might diminish the personal wealth of 1%

marriage? why the hell would anyone want to get married??!! Oh well, do whatever you want, doesn't affect me.


Kristin

lol. I'm hoping to get some slightly better though-out resposes than those (at least in that wording ).

 

[CADsortaGUY]

At this point...

I see a 10ft pole lying on the ground, and your question is 10 ft away. I'm debating the logic in picking up that 10ft pole.

Sorry

CkG

 

[PrinceofWands]

Oh, I'm sure you will, I was merely summarizing based on years of watching the way these threads always degrade into either religious zealotry, or social elitist ego-centricism and arrogance....balanced by utter apathy and self-absorption of course.

 

[ReiAyanami]

but suppose 1 person in the tri-marriage cheats, then the cheater essentially cheated on 2 ppl, and suppose they divorced how would the assets and kids be split up. plus what if one of them brings in an STD to the other two...

cheating, divorces, assets are already complicated with 2 person marriages. no need to make it more complicated.

just ask kobe bryant

or my parents

 

[nowareman]

If I were your professor I would automatically reduce your grade by one-third due to your ommission of polygyny.

 

[ClueLis]

Originally posted by: nowareman
If I were your professor I would automatically reduce your grade by one-third due to your ommission of polygyny.

Lol. That's basically covered by polygamy. Polyandry was specifically mentioned to compensate for the general perception of polygamy as polygyny.