Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Prenup Agreements: The Underlying Issue

Found in a FT essay on the recession of fatherhood in contemporary America.

Voluntarism, the new and Constitutionally validated philosophical undergirding of parenthood, is the notion that no person has any special duties to any other person unless he has explicitly or implicitly consented to them. To be duty-bound for any other reason, such as circumstance or biological kinship, would be to find oneself despotically ruled by irrational forces. This notion lies at the heart of reproductive freedom, championed by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, whose very name echoes the unconstrained view.

But that "voluntarism" also undergirds state-licensed marriage, which explains the rise of "pre-nup" foolishness.

No comments: