The Family of the Future (I)
Written by Alfonso Elizondo
At the beginning of human existence on Earth there were groups of individuals who formed tribes and clans to try to overcome nature’s adversities. Currently there are some cases of villages lost in the Amazon jungle that show how our ancestors behaved.
When human beings began to dominate nature, the population grew and this new reality increased the importance of the family, which apart from surviving, fulfilled a social, political and economic function. But the families of that time did not resemble at all the families of today, but thousands of years went by before humans developed a social life that affected the evolution of the family unit.
In all cultures, the family has been protected, and even more so in those where religion provides the guidelines to follow. One of the practices imposed by societies that were guided by religion is ‘monogamy’, which has many nuances depending on the culture.
Another feature of society that has been perpetuated over time is ‘marriage’, although the ‘de facto relationship’ is more important as a modern form of the family. As the clergy lost influence in state politics, radical movements emerged in opposition the traditional theory of the family. These include sexual liberation in the 20th century, feminism, civil and same-sex marriage, the right to abortion and divorce, in addition to the ‘de facto relationship.
The participation of women in the labor market has also changed the way the traditional family home operates, because the secular education of the state reaches students at a very early age, changing not only traditional basic education, but also traditional family principles and values.
Another element that has changed the traditional family is that the basic economic centers have moved to the big cities and that has encouraged the reduction of family size due to high costs. Today families are made up of three or four members living in cities with millions of inhabitants.
There is no explanation of why, but monogamy, marriage and the condemnation of adultery have been present in all cultures. In the past there have been matriarchal families and others without blood ties. According to John Locke, the human being comes into the world with nothing in mind and it may be true that there is some biological inheritance, but what Locke says is more than 90% true.
For the state, there are two ways to manage basic economic units: one based on individuals and the other on families. Since the industrial revolution, the trend towards management by individuals has increased due to the development of large cities, women’s access to the labor market, the rise of socialism and the new concepts of freedom and equality, but the formula is linked to our principles and is likely to remain that way for many more years.
A world without the right to property and the right of inheritance is perfect for an individual-based society. With the help of current genetic reproductive technology, it could be a world where children do not know their parents and siblings and do not even appreciate that fact.
Addendum: I will continue with this subject of the ‘new family’ and ‘de facto relationships’.