Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable
patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that
differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of
theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical
generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family
Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide
research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant
assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores
how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as
part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices.
Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical
perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a
vii
number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the
Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the
transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes
the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against
the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a
seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and
family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their
own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with
elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern
liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping
with this dilemma are inadequate.
Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to
understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in
resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what
might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that
allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real
weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable
patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that
differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of
theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical
generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family
Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide
research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant
assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores
how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as
part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices.
Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical
perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a
vii
number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the
Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the
transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes
the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against
the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a
seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and
family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their
own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with
elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern
liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping
with this dilemma are inadequate.
Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to
understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in
resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what
might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that
allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real
weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable
patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that
differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of
theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical
generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family
Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide
research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant
assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores
how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as
part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices.
Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical
perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a
vii
number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the
Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the
transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes
the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against
the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a
seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and
family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their
own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with
elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern
liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping
with this dilemma are inadequate.
Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to
understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in
resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what
might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that
allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real
weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world.Much contemporary research and theory on marriage focuses on observable
patterns of interactions and tries to delineate sequential patterns of behavior that
differentiate distressed from non-distressed couples. There is, however, a notable lack of
theorizing about the data beyond “theories” that offer little more than empirical
generalizations. In their latest Sourcebook (2004), The National Council on Family
Relations recognizes the need to develop broader integrative frameworks to guide
research in this field. This theoretical dissertation questions some of the dominant
assumptions and theoretical orientations in the field of marriage research and explores
how we might rethink how contemporary marriage and its goods are conceptualized as
part of the search for more sustainable marriage and family policies and practices.
Questions about marriage are situated in a larger socio-cultural and historical
perspective. Section One identifies ethical ideals and moral goods associated with a
vii
number of the prominent traditional epochs in Western culture prior to the
Enlightenment. Section Two explores the changes in marriage brought about by the
transition from a traditional, hierarchical worldview to the modern outlook that prioritizes
the inherent dignity and rights of individuals that frequently need to be defended against
the tradition. Section Three develops a theoretical framework for dealing with a
seemingly intractable dilemma. On one hand, many continue to feel that marriage and
family life incorporate genuine goods that should be preserved, in some form, for their
own sake and the larger good. On the other hand, traditional ideals appear riddled with
elements of inequality and irrational authority that make them unacceptable in a modern
liberal democracy. It is argued that many of the proposed ways for overcoming or coping
with this dilemma are inadequate.
Finally, the dissertation argues that hermeneutic and dialogical approaches to
understanding human action may offer resources for making some real headway in
resolving these dilemmas. These approaches complement one another and suggest what
might be a credible way “beyond objectivism and relativism” (Bernstein, 1983) that
allows us to affirm certain substantive goods of marriage and family life that carry real
weight but also might be found acceptable in a post-traditional, postmodern world. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/ETD-UT-2011-05-3256 |
| Date | 20 June 2011 |
| Creators | Kinney, Stephen Watts |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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