I'd like to know what Professor Rosenfeld would say about the claims of some "pro-family" advocates like Maggie Gallagher, who claim that relationships that don't produce biological children are of less value to society than relationships based on other things, like mutual care, commitment, companionship, etc. Some seem to think that we should not reward couples who don't produce biological children, which is something our society needs.

I see lots of history of philosophy. How about a section on philosophy of history, the topic of my dissertation? How do I do that? Please advise.

Some seem to think that we should not reward couples who don't produce biological children, which is something our society needs.

Post-modernism, by no means simple to define, is characterized by a "close reading" of small units rather than general theorizing about big ideas. The postmodern tends towards elaboration, eclecticism, ornamentation, and inclusiveness; it dismisses the existence of an absolute reality and is deeply suspicious of the concept of human progress (Doherty 1991). If we define the current ongoing effort to remake contemporary family life as the post-modern family, such a definition carries with it overtones from the definition of postmodern art and literature. In these fields the term post-modern signals the end of a familiar pattern of activity and emergence of new areas of endeavour whose activities are unclear and whose meanings and implications are not yet well understood. Thus, the post-modern is characterized by uncertainty, insecurity, and doubt (Stacey 1990).

This is so true: noone listens to their parents anymore. At least, not in this part of the world. And if parents are trying to influence their children, most of the time it causes the oppsit effect: rebelling and doing the opposite from parents' advise. I even suspect that some people change their sexual orientation to piss their parents...

I think that we should find the some different way that helps the society.

So some seem to think that we should not reward couples who don't produce biological children, which is something our society needs.

Rachel...I don't think it's so easy to minimize what the word "family" means.
You talk about the divorce rate being 50% as being one of the reasons for your view here, but if people would decide to place children first and civility next...divorcing either with mediation or through a collaborative divorce would keep the children in tact, because of the use of a divorce coach or some other neutral party.
This is one way a family can retain some meaning.

It has more to do with the values that are taught in the home at a young age, then the living arrangements in early adulthood.

Our main problem is that we have become a TOO materialistic society. The younger generation leave our nest in pursuit of career and success. Many times they move and live far from their hometown. This geographical distance also creates disconnection and disintegration of the traditional family unit..

Thank you for this post Ken! Michael Rosenfeld approach is very interesting. I see the same trend here in Germany!

Good to see people still thinking, and not just sitting back.
But the problem is not the rate of divorce but the pressure placed on our kids to think they must marry and at a young age.
We have children who think getting married young is a good thing, and we keep pressuring them into getting married before having sex.
I dont know you but long before I became an adult I lived at home
And I was always told that I have to get married before having sex. And being young thats all that was on my mind.
So we have to teach are children better,

Not only are young people more open minded to interracial mixing, but the increase in mixing after college days flows back to the parent's generation once they actually get to know their grown up child's friends and partner from another race, as opposed to just assuming things about them from racial preconceptions.

When it comes to family values and family structure, things are definitely going downhill at a rapid pace. This appears to be directly related to this independent, selfish, ?me, me, me? mentality that so permeates our society today. Many young people today are extremely self-centered and have no concept of respect for authority and what is truly right and wrong?even grown adults fall into this category. If something drastic does not happen soon to inspire people to desire close family ties and bonds again, our society is just going to fall apart.

It does seem as though children these days are far more disobedient than in the past. But one problem is that the laws are so strict now on how you can discipline your child that parents are to afraid to do anything.

I believe some people need to start taking more responsibility and depend less on the Government. Here's a real situation that happened the other day. My neighbor and I were talking and he mentioned he recently had knee surgery. He was walking around just fine, however he said he was in the process of suing his surgeon. Long story short - He was given instructions regarding post opp and apparently he didn't listen very well and hurt his knee again playing Basketball, which he was not supposed to be doing any running. Anyway, he tore another ligament and when it came to see the surgeon again, the surgeon who previously operated on him refused to see him and referred him to another specialist. Anyway, he is suing the surgeon for refusing to see him.

I think this so called "the age of independence" always existed to be honest, maybe in a secretive fashion, but always there under the societal norms.

I'd like to say that even in the age of independence family is still the basic foundation of a human being. Although we are more of the materialistic era,we inculcate in our minds that family is still family. No matter how independent you may think you'll be, you'll always belong to a family that nevertheless guided you in anyway possible. I believe that in this post modern there still is a classical family ties that binds us. We grow not only because of how we adapt with our environment but also because of how we were raised and how we progress as individuals.

The lack of social interaction in the present day world has resulted in attachment even between the parents and their siblings. In that case there is no question of parents having a saying over their offspring's mate choices. From dating to marriage the younger generation goes on their own way without any respect to the older generation.

I think a few of the comments hit on the real cause of the decline in the family or at least in the decline in the importance of the family. I think 2 major contributors to this are the "ME" attitude that has arisen and in the dependence in the Government to provide the things the family use to provide.
If we remember back to the 1850's to 1900's, the family was the backbone of this county. The government didn't provide all of the benefits or care for people that it does today. In order for people to survive they needed to rely on the Family for support. They also didn't have the transportation available we have today and that meant staying close to home. That prevented people from mixing and that lead to discrimination of various degrees.
As time has passed, the Government, at our request, has taken over the responsibility for caring for us in a variety of Social benefit programs, Laws to protect women and children,Civil Rights, etc. In addition transportation has improved so we can be on the other side of the world in hours. As we have become more dependent on the Government and can travel farther, we have had less need for the family structure. Laws have been passed that prevent you from physically disciplining our kids, so kids become more independent in their attitudes, because there are not consequences of misbehaving or listening to mom or dad.
I don't think interracial marriage will have a negative impact of the Family. The people in the relationship still have the choice to make the family strong. Same-Sex-Marriage will affect the Family if the Family rejects the idea of this type of marriage.
In summary, the age of rapid transportation, the dependence on Government, the role of government to protect us from each other (including telling us how to raise our kids), the growth of the independent and 'ME' driven individual, are the major causes of the decline in family and I see it getting worse. Several of the comments above talked about getting government to provide more care for our elderly so they don't have to be burdened with them. That tells me the Family will get to be less important.

I think technology is playing a role in widening the gap between the current generation and their parents. As we all know, younger people are generally better with computers and such. I learn things from my friend's 8 year old about the internet and I make my living on the internet...very humbling.
As such, the wisdom which comes with life experience seems to be of less importance than Twitter and Facebook to this younger generation.

In my point of view, it has to do more with the education of the parents themselves, but ALSO, with the school... Personnally, my parents put into my mind, from the early stages, that the family is something that you can't mess with. I DO care about the family, and I WILL teach the sames values to my future children....
Sincerely your.

I think you will find that every generation bemoans the loss of values of the next. Has been going on since Roman times and likely before.
Like language, society evolves inever newer directions. Get used to it.

I think the role of the family is still intact. To instill what is right from wrong. However I feel like people have always over stepped this boundary. Sexual identity is not for your parents to decide, it's your decision, period. Perhaps maybe I only realize this because it was something my parents instilled in me. I do not like to think of it in this way however, because really the choice is mine.

Another problem only touched upon here is the increasing feeling of resentment felt by the childless (both single and married) about the increasingly large amounts invested in the next generation, when they have no actual stake in this themselves. I myself have tried the "who's going to pay the taxes to keep you in your old age?" argument, but it does seem to convince! Also, many members of childless couples see themselves as working harder than those with children as they never take time off work for "emergencies" either real or perceived! Thanks for the interesting post and coments. O

While we have maintained a strong family unit within our own mixed race family I can see the deterioration in family values everywhere. Parents are to busy trying to make ends meet and so have little time to spend with their children and instill in them strong family values and a sense of right and wrong.
Schools are bereft of discipline for fear of litigation and if there is no discipline at home there is little wonder that this new generation lacks discipline, social skills, family values and a sense of right and wrong.

I think that the thesis is spot on. With the majority of young adults going to colleges away from their immediate families, they are supplementing the advice/guidance they would normally receive from their parents on a daily basis with the "families" they build on/off campus. This can be a good and bad thing depending on who is talking, but in my personal opinion, it is not a good thing. I am not saying we should keep children penned in at home behind the iron curtain of mother's skirt, but I definitely am for parents having a more active role in their childrens' lives, not only while they are away at college, but always.