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The Problem with Polygamy

Brooks, Thom

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Abstract

Polygamy is a hotly contested practice and open to widespread misunderstandings. This practice is defined as a relationship between either one husband and multiple wives or one wife and multiple husbands. Today, “polygamy” almost exclusively takes the form of one husband with multiple wives. In this article, my focus will center on limited defenses of polygamy offered recently by Chesire Calhoun and Martha Nussbaum. I will argue that these defenses are unconvincing. The problem with polygamy is primarily that it is a structurally inegalitarian practice in both theory and fact. Polygamy should be opposed for this reason.

Citation

Brooks, T. (2009). The Problem with Polygamy. Philosophical Topics, 37(2), 109-122. https://doi.org/10.5840/philtopics20093727

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2009
Deposit Date Nov 16, 2012
Publicly Available Date May 1, 2013
Journal Philosophical Topics
Print ISSN 0276-2080
Electronic ISSN 2154-154X
Publisher Philosophy Documentation Center
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 37
Issue 2
Pages 109-122
DOI https://doi.org/10.5840/philtopics20093727
Keywords Calhoun, Capabilities, Equality, Nussbaum, Political liberalism, Polyandry, Polygamy, Polygyny, Rawls.

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Copyright Statement
Brooks, Thom (2009) 'The problem with polygamy.', Philosophical topics., 37 (2). pp. 109-122.







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