BOTOS Katalin (Hungary)

Member of the Batthyány Society for Professors, former minister

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Lecture and abstract of the conference entitled:
Demography and the Culture of Relationship between Couples
27-29 May 2021, Hungary
Organized by Family Science Alliance, Batthyány Society of Professors and European Family Science Society


 

Couple relationship problems in postmodern times, philosophy and practice

Abstract

Postmodern philosophy rejects traditional religion with all of its ethical norms. Instead of it supports exaggerated individualism where everything is subjected to the “religion” of pleasure, including sexuality. Couple relationships in an orderly manner, lifetime commitment that would be the most appropriate, the ideal for bringing up children, is not a social norm in the postmodern. From an economic point of view, the child is no longer necessary for families today. Birth pills and the liberal regulation of abortion allow to practice sexuality both within and without of a couple relationship) without the consequence of having a child. Children are considered as a luxury item. Most women mostly are employed and get pension without bearing a child. At the same time it has become common to have early (premarital) sexual connection. This freedom is not favorable to the formation of long-lasting couple relationships. It mostly puts a disadvantage for those who want to marry with chastity. Commitment is counteracted by a high degree of uncertainty about the future, a critical measure of youth unemployment in many countries, and the lack of low-cost, low-rent housing required in the spirit of the modern age. Although the government currently supports the already established families, they provide relatively little support for initiating longlasting couple relationships. Adequate institutional forms, network of clubs would be needed for building couple relationship, supporting bottom to top civil initiatives and adequate education policies as well. The current pandemic is a special obstacle now to improve personal couple relationships.

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