Original scientific paper

Marriage and Family in the Changed Social-Cultural Context

Ivan Bubalo ; Franciscan Theology – Institution of Higher Education of Franciscan Province Bosna Srebrena, Sarajevo, Bosna and Herzegovina

Abstract

Until recently, in the Western cultural milieu marriage and family were understood in the spirit of the whole European tradition, characterised by the Greek philosophical heritage, Roman law, and Biblical faith. Despite differences in forms and concrete contents throughout history, marriage and family were constantly understood as a specific institution that ensues from the human nature and not from a mere arbitrary human decree. In that sense, the Roman jurist Ulpian (c. 170-228) mentions marriage in the first place as an example of an institution based on the natural law: from this law ensues »the relation between a man and a woman that we call marriage, as well as procreation and education of children«. On the other hand, nowadays one witnesses the postmodern deconstruction of marriage and family in terms of their previous meaning and a new concept of marriage and family is being constructed that also includes relations between persons of the same sex, while, at the same time, the natural relation between marriage and family is being denied. This redefinition of grounds marriage in a decree (or in postmodern vocabulary in a discourse) and not anymore in the nature, which is being deconstructed itself. Additionally, the relation between nature and decree is being redefined in the sense that now θέσις, as opposed to the classical understanding, determines φύσις. In this way – of a sort of »’hostile overtaking’ of one cultural institution and one legal institute« (M. Sievernich) – a revolution in understanding of the human being and his/her nature is being carried out, and foundations of society and civilisation are put into question.

Keywords

nature; proposition; marriage; postmodernity; deconstruction

Hrčak ID:

147990

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/147990

Publication date:

28.10.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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