Marriage is Dead

Paper Summary:

This paper first explains Nietzsche's belief that any system of morality that attempts to claim universal jurisdiction, is also a system which attempts to suppress the fundamental expression of an individual's vital intentions and energies. The paper then uses Nietzsche's belief about systems of morality to argue that the institution of marriage actually propagates injustice between two individuals. The paper makes the argument, based on Nietzsche's view, that marriage is an insidious form of oppression which, while offering occasional comfort and security, also suppresses the natural urges of a whole society of people.

From the Paper:

"To begin the argument, we shall limit - for a moment - the scope of our universe to the Western world, whose moral generalities rely strongly on the Judeo-Christian tradition. In these cases, marriage requires many things to be successful. It requires an adherence to monogamy, a self-sacrifice, a determined patience and a willingness to negotiate on many fundamental issues of importance, such as living conditions, bearing and raising children and basic human comforts like intimacy, affection and privacy. These requirements are culturally specific, and for this reason they describe a system of acceptable behaviors within a group of people. Thus if one party of the marriage contract fails to maintain the correct conduct expected of him/her, that person is subject to personal and legal condemnation, and can be brought to punishment in a variety of ways. It is in this way that a group of people maintains control over an individual."

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