The Meaning of Marriage: Family, State, Market, & Morals

by Jean Elshtain, Jean Bethke Elshtain

The movement for same-sex marriage has triggered an unprecedented crisis in the social norms and laws governing marriage. All great civilizations have sought to unite, in the institution of marriage, the goods of sexual intimacy, childbearing and childrearing, and life-long love between adults. But the last five decades have witnessed the erosion of marriage as a public institution in the developed world. The separation of the goods previously united in marriage has led thoughtful people to question why marriage should be denied to homosexuals. This volume brings together the best of contemporary scholarship on marriage from a variety of disciplines - history, ethics, economics, law and public policy, philosophy, sociology, psychiatry, political science - to inform, and reform, public debate. Rigorous yet accessible, these studies aim to rethink and re-present the case for marriage as a positive institution and ideal that is in the public interest and serves the common good. The essays in this volume were presented to an audience of scholars, journalists, public policy experts, and other professionals at a conference at Princeton University sponsored by the Witherspoon Institute. The authors are among the most eminent authorities on marriage and public policy in the English-speaking world.

Genres: Family, Religion

318 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2010

Reviews

[Christopher Butson]

While I share many of the concerns over modernization and divorce found throughout this book, there is no logical reasoning against gay marriage here that isn't built on the authors' unsupported contentions. None of the empirical evidence given to defend their claims is widely-accepted. There are many instances of the authors misappropriating biological "kin altruism" throughout, and heavy reliance on stereotypes (especially regarding promiscuity among gays and lesbians). Many slippery-slope arguments.

[Gavin]

This book addresses a difficult issues, the status of the institution of marriage in twenty-first century America. Unfortunately, the topic has entered our public life at a time when the terms of our public discourse seem poorly equipped to engage in a serious and nuanced discussion concerning the nature and purpose of marriage in American (or any other) society. This Meaning of Marriage is a collection of essays that use economics, sociology, religion, philosophy, and good thinking to examine the importance of marriage.

[Jon]

Though not without a (very) few unsubstantiated claims, this book has some of the best secular arguments in favor of traditional marriage that I've read. Whether the various authors are discussing unilateral divorce, same-sex marriage, or kin altruism, The Meaning of Marriage is proof that those in favor of traditional marriage have secular reasons for their stance, and smart reasons at that.

[Gary]

The best source I have yet found for clear reasoning on this important topic. The book deals with all threats facing the marriage culture today, including divorce and same-sex marriage.