tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-433440494954489625.post5351829155554209624..comments2009-12-15T09:35:32.509-08:00Comments on Existentialism @ Rhodes: Dostoevsky, happy versionDoctor Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13189506916480012553noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-433440494954489625.post-24669494860637945142009-09-13T14:49:00.598-07:002009-09-13T14:49:00.598-07:00re: "Even in another example, if you chose to...re: "Even in another example, if you chose to love your spouse unconditionally, as prescribed by your vows, yet that choice is not truly yours, do you have a truly special bond with that person, or is that bond bankrupted of its power by the lack of choice involved?"<br /><br />This raises an interesting point. Marriage vows are yet another set of rules, and many people love without vows being a part of their relationship. Marriage is symbolic of your commitment to loving another human being, and those who do marry, it would seem, want to be recognized for this commitment. Choosing to marry is not something forced upon humans by any rule; if anything it’s forced upon humans via social pressure to be recognized for finding true love. It would seem that marriage, more recently, has been cheapened by divorce. Humans, due to social pressures (and perhaps stupidity), rush to get married because of the modern American lifestyle. People are looking for instant gratification like the internet, true love like reality television, and can marry as quickly as Elvis can recite vows in Las Vegas. I think those who are actually, truly in love do not mind reciting vows, even though those who aren't actually in love cheapen the vows. Couples do have a choice to say vows or not. The vows take committed love into the rational realm, but committed love should remain in the individual(s) realm. The reason marriage vows are in the rational realm is for people onlooking the relationship (friends, family, government, etc). <br />[apologies for the disjointed rambling...]brannenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10810315374994041987noreply@blogger.com