Philosophy and Religious Studies The History of Marriage: Why the Institution of Marriage Should be Abolished Hope Cornett Project Mentor(s): David Schwan, PhD; Emily Rollie, PhD The institution of marriage in Western culture is historically rooted in the oppression of women and the imposition of colonial norms on otherwise diverse societies. These origins continue to shape contemporary marriage practices, reinforcing patriarchal structures, contributing to cultural erasure, and protecting systemic inequality. Although some modern reforms have made marriage more equitable, this paper argues that retaining the institution in its current form perpetuates the oppressive frameworks on which it was built. Through an examination of historical and cultural developments, this presentation asserts that marriage should be abolished and replaced by more inclusive relational and legal frameworks that do not contribute or inadvertently support these historical harms.
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation (May 20, 9:30am–5:00pm) Keywords: Marriage, Philosophy, History, Feminism, Western Culture SOURCE Form ID: 166
Arguments Against Objective Morality Luis Fernandez Project Mentor(s): Cynthia Coe, PhD; Matthew Altman, PhD
People everywhere question whether the actions that they are taking are just, and good. But what exactly is it that makes an action morally good or morally wrong? And how does an action gain its value in terms of morality? What makes it so that one action is more preferable to another alternative? This is a question that has been raised and remains unanswered since the times of ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Plato argued that what makes an action morally good is determined by whether that action meets an external criteria that gives an action its moral value. In other words, there is an objective external form of what “goodness” looks like, and an action’s “goodness” or moral value is determined by whether or not an action exhibits these qualities. This paper will first examine Plato's arguments of what goodness looks like, as well as his idea proposed in his Republic that many of the things in this world are merely imperfect copies of a higher, more real world; we will then examine Nietzsche’s arguments in favor of the devaluation of Christian moral framework, and lastly we will present an existential argument on the importance of rejecting traditional Judeo-Christian morality in favor of a moral framework that embraces the realities of life (or “life-affirming values” in Nietzschean terms). Presentation Type: Oral Presentation (May 20, 9:30am–5:00pm) Keywords: Nietzsche, Plato, Augustin of Hippo, morality, objective morality SOURCE Form ID: 167
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