Re: Merci, merci monsieur, grand merci!

Looking back, we might justify anything based on what has occurred in history.

Perhaps. But just because we have supposedly "moved beyond" something that occurred in history doesn't necessarily make us better for it. The Greeks reached a height of art, democracy, and culture that wasn't seen again for several hundreds of years. And intergenerational relationships were a part of that culture, as they were during the Renaissance and several other periods.

Different times and different places. What happens in history is relative to the conditions at the time. We abhore the concept of slavery now but to many quite educated and supposedly liberal people at the time it was accepted. History often does repeat itself but rarely exactly. Who was it who said 'He who doesn't learn from the past is condemned to repeat it', quite appropriate I think.

I agree that the fact that such practices were widespread in the past might not justify the practices in and of itself (certainly the fact that slavery was widespread throughout history doesn't justify slavery). But these historical examples do provide us with case studies to examine. The modern concensus is that sexuality between youths and adults is always exploitive and damaging, but was this the case when these relationships were allowed to thrive in an open, accepting environment? Is our society's aversion to these kinds of relationships more a result of religion, social mores, and a modern focus on equality in relationships than it is a concern over discouraging a practice that is inherently harmful and wrong? Did these relationships serve a useful purpose for previous societies, and might they serve a useful purpose for our society?

I agree that much can be learnt from the past and in other cultures. The main problem I have with many who advocate some of the practices of so-called primitive societies is the fact that we seem to have gone beyond the stage where they could successfully be applied due to the nature of societies now and that of mass communications and travel. Trust in others is never ever going to be the same as it was in these societies.

Just as you can't necessarily justify something "based on what has occurred in history," you can't justify a belief simply because "that's the way things are now."

And I would not attempt to do so, I arrive at my views with regard to what I understand of ourselves, perhaps I am wrong, perhaps you are.

Moth