thread: 2006-08-31 : I think my expectations are screwed
On 2006-09-06, Tris wrote:
The polygamy thing:
Actually, there are examples of societies that have used polygamy as their standard model of marriage, and thrived. I'm not sure that we can point at polygamy as the cause for the downfall of the Incas. Unless it was jealousy, rather than gold that drove the Spaniards? :-)
I'd also humbly submit that the second wife of Bill Gates would have a better shot at quality of life than my first wife - leaving aside any preconceptions she had about marriage as a couple being an essential part of happiness.
There is also evidence that polygamous societies have tended to result in more faithful marriage, whereas monogamous societies tend to have relatively large levels of unfaithfulness.
I think the most important point is that we have the society we have. Most people (myself included) would be pretty unhappy if they were expected to share their partner with someone else. Some large societies have made this work, but they did it with people brought up in their societies, not with your average modern American/European.
