The emphasis (for males) used to be spreading your 'seed' as far as possible (either in terms of large families, or by having more than one partner/family) to ensure that at least some offspring survive adverse conditions.
Exactly. That's why humans have the urge to rape. Fortunately, most can fight it, but back in the Neanderthal days, it was the only way to ensure that your genes were passed on.
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It's hard enough to maintain a steady and joyful relationship with one person in a marriage (because you have to be selfless).
It's not hard if you're a selfless person.
Nowadays, I don't think polygamy should exist except in certain primitive cultures where it remains vital. I say primitive, but I don't really mean that. Their cultures are just as rich as ours are, but more flawed in some ways. Ours are flawed in other ways. But primitive is the best word.
However, this is going to lead me on a rant about the blatant and totally needless sexism in Muslim countries and that'll get me pissed off again.
'And lo, Jade struck down the evil-doers and restored peace to this Canon. But the Mary Sues would strike again...' The Book of Jade 32:15
'Unleashing your imagination requires an imagination to unleash.'
I don't know if unnatural is the right word, but it is natural for a male to reproduce as much as possible. Since the invention of contraception, this has come to mean: have sex as much as possible.
The urge to have sex (formerly reproduce) does not disappear or diminish when a male is in a firm relationship. The only means to combat this is self control, which comes from the context of society.
In a society where it is not frowned upon for a male to procreate with many different partners, there certainly is no natural, psychological reason for a male not to.
Thankfully, most societies have taken to respecting women to some degree, for obviously the result of polygamy (if actual procreation is involved) means a lot more work for the woman.
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Originally Posted by thejadefalcon
Exactly. That's why humans have the urge to rape.
I really don't think humans have the urge to rape. The urge to reproduce is one thing, but when violence is involved most people would feel disgusted, which may be a cultural thing but I assume it is natural.
I really don't think humans have the urge to rape. The urge to reproduce is one thing, but when violence is involved most people would feel disgusted, which may be a cultural thing but I assume it is natural.
Exactly. Reproduce by any means necessary. Think about it this way. In the animal kingdom, three-quarters of sex is rape. What are humans? Animals. Plus, read what I then wrote next.
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Fortunately, most can fight it...
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I don't know if unnatural is the right word, but it is natural for a male to reproduce as much as possible. Since the invention of contraception, this has come to mean: have sex as much as possible.
The urge to have sex (formerly reproduce) does not disappear or diminish when a male is in a firm relationship. The only means to combat this is self control, which comes from the context of society.
So you're saying that men are only after one thing and that women are completely free of blame? *shrugs* Sprry if you don't mean that, but that's what it looks like to me.
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In a society where it is not frowned upon for a male to procreate with many different partners, there certainly is no natural, psychological reason for a male not to.
One word: love.
'And lo, Jade struck down the evil-doers and restored peace to this Canon. But the Mary Sues would strike again...' The Book of Jade 32:15
'Unleashing your imagination requires an imagination to unleash.'
Exactly. Reproduce by any means necessary. Think about it this way. In the animal kingdom, three-quarters of sex is rape. What are humans? Animals. Plus, read what I then wrote next.
Human and animal psychology still vary considerably. I still don't believe it's natural to desire sex even when violence would be necessary. Most people would shy away.
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So you're saying that men are only after one thing and that women are completely free of blame? *shrugs* Sprry if you don't mean that, but that's what it looks like to me.
Who's talking about blame? I'm merely trying to say what the "natural", instinctive human view on sex is. And the thing is, males instinctively have a completely different approach. Yes, it is only males that have the urge to reproduce as much as possible. Male and female humans are pretty similar psychologically, but when it comes to reproduction there are big differences.
I'm not blaming men for anything, just saying how it is biologically.
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One word: love.
What we understand as love today is influenced hugely by our history and culture. Although it seems conflicting to us, in a different cultural background it might well be considered particularly loving if a man holds many wives, and supports them (although it certainly isn't desirable in the face of modern gender equality).
Seeped into the mainstream of western culture you mean. If you take a look at Middle Eastern, African, and Eastern culture, the chances of polygamy rise significantly.
I'd like to point out that your comparison is somewhat weak because of the gross human rights violations back east. There is really no place to compare monogamy with polygamy when people can actually do it consentually-usually it's the result of coercion.
I'd like to point out that your comparison is somewhat weak because of the gross human rights violations back east. There is really no place to compare monogamy with polygamy when people can actually do it consentually-usually it's the result of coercion.
Agreed that human rights standards are incomparable to what us "westerners" are used to, but that doesn't mean it isn't natural any other way. Human instinct is not necessarily compatible with modern-day human rights.
Human instinct is not necessarily compatible with modern-day human rights.
I disagree completely. Human instinct dictates that we do what is necessary to survive (unless suffering from severe mental anguish). Dominance over another, although 'instinctive' for the predator in the sense of some sort of survival does not mean that the dominated person's instinct is out of play. It's all of nature's instinct to live life by your own means; it's not inherently instictive to not be able to do this.
Honestly, if look at all of the other mammals out there on this Earth, seven percent of them do not practice monogamy. I know that homosapiens are the only to have the mental ability to remain monogamous, but it goes against the core of our instinct. Our instinct is to procreate and spread our seed to many hosts as possible. So that brings us to the initial question. Do you think it is unnatural to stay with the same partner faithfully when our instinct is to find others out in the wilderness?
Is it unnatural? Absolutely without a doubt.
[CENTER][B][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]When we change the way we look at things, what we look at changes.[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]
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The line between nature and man is not something that can be drawn. We were and are natural beings born into a world dictated by nature. To claim that any behaviour is unnatural makes no sense when we cannot do anything but what we do, and that is always in accordance with the environment we find ourselves in, the experiences we have, and the biology we are subjected to.
In other words everything we have and do is a consequence of the natural order, both monogamy where it occurs and polygamy are as natural as each other.
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Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous? 
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