The Problem with Polygamy

Brooks, Thom

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.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1470965