PHIL 27 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Married People, Liberal Democracy, Social Stigma
Document Summary
Saying that marriage is a promise is wrong. The only thing that can be mutually justified is that caring relationships are important. But marriage is not the only relationship that is caring in life: marriage should be most; however, some disagree. The role of the state is to help sustain caring relationships (income, health, security) The role of marriage is to have a caring relationship. Ideal society: there would be no legal recognition of marriage: the state should not be involved. The state should just provide everyone with benefits that married people get, regardless of their married. Being married changes nothing: vs. minimal marriage if you"re in a marriage, then you get different benefits. If you"re married, it can be difficult to leave if it is abusive. Hard to get restraining order, sue for custody of your children. These unfairly harm people who are being abused.
