Why Societies Move Away from Traditional Monogamy

Questioning the Shift from Monogamy

The conversation begins with a question about why societies, once safe and prosperous, tend to move away from traditional monogamy despite its benefits. Kirk responds by invoking the second law of thermodynamics, describing societal decay as a natural process. He argues that prosperity leads to degeneracy because it removes moral guardrails and encourages instant gratification over delayed gratification. This decline, he suggests, erodes the transcendent moral order that supports stable relationships.

Markets, Morality, and Marriage

Kirk explains that while he believes in free markets, he supports intervention when moral standards are violated, such as in cases of scams or misleading advertising. He applies the same principle to marriage, advocating for a transcendent moral standard that guides personal behavior.

Challenges to Moral Absolutism

The discussion acknowledges that while monogamy works best for most people, some struggle due to attachment disorders and genetic differences affecting bonding. The sexual revolution is cited as a movement that began with female autonomy but evolved into a broader push for individual freedom, challenging moral absolutism and leading to societal shifts.

The Impact of Moral Relativism and Feminism

Kirk critiques modern feminism, particularly Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique, arguing it wrongly portrays monogamous marriage as oppressive and has contributed to increased rates of depression, suicide, and prescription drug addiction among Western women. He advocates encouraging young women to embrace marriage and motherhood as courageous choices that could address many social problems.

Causes of Struggles in Long-Term Bonds

Kirk attributes difficulties in maintaining long-term relationships to factors such as economic hardship, the decline of religion (especially Christianity), and ecological and genetic influences on attachment styles. He notes that industrialization and absent parenting contribute to attachment disorders, making stable pair bonds harder to sustain.

The Necessity of Moral Standards

Kirk rejects moral relativism, emphasizing the need to choose a moral standard. He argues that the modern “live and let live” approach is itself a moral standard—one that he believes leads to suffering and despair. He feels a moral obligation to uplift people toward a true moral standard rather than accommodate shortcomings.

Summary

This discussion with Charlie Kirk explores why prosperous societies tend to move away from traditional monogamous relationships despite their societal benefits. Kirk attributes this shift to societal decay, driven by prosperity that erodes moral guardrails and encourages instant gratification. He supports intervention in markets and personal behavior when moral standards are violated, applying this to marriage as well.

Kirk acknowledges that while monogamy is ideal for most, attachment disorders, genetic factors, and cultural changes challenge its universality. The sexual revolution, starting as a push for female autonomy, morphed into a broader rejection of moral absolutism, leading to societal instability. He critiques modern feminism, particularly Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique, for contributing to increased mental health issues among Western women by portraying marriage as oppressive.

Economic hardship, the decline of religion, and ecological factors also contribute to struggles in forming stable long-term bonds. Kirk stresses the importance of choosing a moral standard, criticizing the modern “live and let live” ethos as a harmful moral framework. He advocates for encouraging marriage and family as courageous and stabilizing choices to address social ills.