ON POLYGAMY I’ve answered this question repeatedly. So here we go again: (a) the

ON POLYGAMY

I’ve answered this question repeatedly. So here we go again:

(a) the community will not insure it.

(b) the community might ostracize it.

(c) the ostracization is rational since it is not in their kin’s interests, and poses a normative risk to their kin.

(d) there is nothing stopping you from creating a corporation with the identical properties of a marriage EXCEPT for the community insurance of the relationship.

(e) so effectively you trade a decrease in normative social status in exchange for polygamy. And I have no reason to think this is not exactly the optimum condition.

(f) i might argue that such a private contract might have higher value than the marriage contract since it is unregulated.

In other words, IMO, marriage is an ancient natural law contract between a man and a woman for the formation of a corporation of community property that produces offspring who later care for the parents in old age.

Every other relationship is not marriage but a contract that grants:

(a) reciprocal exclusivity of resources of all kinds

(b) reciprocal power of attorney over the community assets including one another.

(c) reciprocal insurance against the vicissitudes of life.

(d) reciprocal insurance of offspring.

The difference being that the community will warranty non interference in the relationship and therefore the contract of marriage, and the community will not warranty the same of the alternative contract, since it is not in the interests of the community to foster these relationships. (no it’s not. sorry).