<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This second part of a two-part series exploring implications of the natural differences between the sexes for the cultural evolution of marriage considers how the institution of marriage might evolve, if Kant’s reasons for defending monogamy are extended and applied to a future culture. After summarizing the philosophical framework for making cross-cultural ethical assessments that was introduced in Part I and then explaining Kant’s portrayal of marriage as an antidote to the objectifying tendencies of sex, I summarize Kant’s reasons for rejecting polygamy and for viewing monogamy as the only ethically acceptable form of marriage. Finally, I argue that if we apply Kantian principles to the real situation of marriage in many modern cultures, and if we wish to maintain a legitimate place for marriage in the future evolution of human culture, then the future evolution of marriage laws must recognize polyfidelity (i.e., plural marriages for both men and women) as being just as legitimate as monogamy.</p></abstract>

This second part of a two-part series exploring implications of the natural differences between the sexes for the cultural evolution of marriage considers how the institution of marriage might evolve, if Kant’s reasons for defending monogamy are extended and applied to a future culture. After summarizing the philosophical framework for making cross-cultural ethical assessments that was introduced in Part I and then explaining Kant’s portrayal of marriage as an antidote to the objectifying tendencies of sex, I summarize Kant’s reasons for rejecting polygamy and for viewing monogamy as the only ethically acceptable form of marriage. Finally, I argue that if we apply Kantian principles to the real situation of marriage in many modern cultures, and if we wish to maintain a legitimate place for marriage in the future evolution of human culture, then the future evolution of marriage laws must recognize polyfidelity (i.e., plural marriages for both men and women) as being just as legitimate as monogamy.

Egalitarian sexism: Kant’s defense of monogamy and its implications for the future evolution of marriage II

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This second part of a two-part series exploring implications of the natural differences between the sexes for the cultural evolution of marriage considers how...

Egalitarian sexism: Kant’s defense of monogamy and its implications for the future evolution of marriage II

Published Online: Dec 30, 2017

Page range: 127 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ebce-2017-0018

Keywords
Immanuel Kant, sexism, marriage law, egalitarian ethics, cross-cultural assessments, monogamy, polygamy, polyfidelity

© 2017 Stephen R. Palmquist, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Egalitarian sexism: Kant’s defense of monogamy and its implications for the future evolution of marriage II

Published Online: Dec 30, 2017

Page range: 127 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ebce-2017-0018

KeywordsImmanuel Kant, sexism, marriage law, egalitarian ethics, cross-cultural assessments, monogamy, polygamy, polyfidelity

© 2017 Stephen R. Palmquist, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Immanuel Kant, sexism, marriage law, egalitarian ethics, cross-cultural assessments, monogamy, polygamy, polyfidelity