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J. D. Unwin: Difference between revisions
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'''J. D. Unwin''' was a 20th century English ethnologist who argued that sexual license (widespread pre-marital sex) and the decline of monogamy (as typically promoted by feminism) leads to irrevocable societal collapse. He argued that [[monogamy]] was a pre-requisite for civilization to exist, stating: ""The whole of human history does not contain a single instance of a group becoming civilized unless it has been absolutely monogamous, nor is there any example of a group retaining its culture after it has adopted less rigorous customs." He died at the age of 40 years old, his work being largely obscure during his lifetime, but it did receive praise from Aldous Huxley, author of ''Brave New World'', which explored similar themes. | '''J. D. Unwin''' was a 20th century English ethnologist who argued that sexual license (widespread pre-marital sex) and the decline of monogamy (as typically promoted by feminism) leads to irrevocable societal collapse. He argued that [[monogamy]] was a pre-requisite for civilization to exist, stating: ""The whole of human history does not contain a single instance of a group becoming civilized unless it has been absolutely monogamous, nor is there any example of a group retaining its culture after it has adopted less rigorous customs." He died at the age of 40 years old, his work being largely obscure during his lifetime, but it did receive praise from Aldous Huxley, author of ''Brave New World'', which explored similar themes. | ||
==Sex and Culture== | ==Sex and Culture== | ||
Unwin conducted an analysis of 86 cultures (80 primitive tribes and the Roman, Greek, Sumerian, Arabian, Babylonian, and Anglo-Saxon civilizations), publishing his findings in 1934, in a book entitled '''Sex and Culture'''. | The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud had previously argued that sexual repression was correlated with civilization. Setting out to examine to validity of this claim, Unwin conducted an analysis of 86 cultures (80 primitive tribes and the Roman, Greek, Sumerian, Arabian, Babylonian, and Anglo-Saxon civilizations), publishing his findings in 1934, in a book entitled '''Sex and Culture'''. | ||
Unwin concluded from his study that historically ascendant and expansive peoples invariably practiced sexual restraint before marriage;enforcing monogamy through social and/or legal avenues. | Unwin concluded from his study that historically ascendant and expansive peoples invariably practiced sexual restraint before marriage;enforcing monogamy through social and/or legal avenues. | ||
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Unwin presented his findings impartially, making no solid conclusions in regards to how exactly sexual license led to civilization decline, beyond making nebulous references to "sexual transmutation", or the channeling of repressed sexual energy into productivity and innovation; as a possible factor in this process. | Unwin presented his findings impartially, making no solid conclusions in regards to how exactly sexual license led to civilization decline, beyond making nebulous references to "sexual transmutation", or the channeling of repressed sexual energy into productivity and innovation; as a possible factor in this process. | ||
He also expressed support for some feminist ideas, like legal equality between the sexes, which he claimed was crucial to the institution of monogamy being preserved. He also claimed that there was evidence that female legal equality and absolute monogamy ''could'' co-exist. | He also expressed support for some feminist ideas, like legal equality between the sexes, which he claimed was crucial to the institution of monogamy being preserved. He also claimed that there was evidence that female legal equality and absolute monogamy ''could'' co-exist. | ||
==Utopian Views== | |||
Drawing upon the conclusions he derived from his of the effects of sexual restraint on civilization progress in Sex and Culture, Unwin wrote a utopian book detailing his plan for an ideal society. This work was not completed before his untimely death, but it the finished portions were edited and published in 1940 as the book '''Hopousia". | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||