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I. a Social Ethical Analysis of Family

based upon (a) Traditional Tribal Values,
and
based upon (b) Modern Family Values.

II. a Prescription to Modern Nuclear Families
from a Traditional Tribal Perspective

by Theodore Walker, Jr.

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[Return to start of Social Ethical Analysis of Family.]

I.(a) A Social Ethical Analysis of Family
Based Upon Traditional Tribal Values:

interpretive theme:

Family is important and good.

description:

According to much traditional tribal value and practice, the ideally normal family is an extended family.
An extended family consists of four or more grandparents, two or more parents, one or more offspring, plus other relations. Normally and ideally two or more parents plus other relations aspire to hunt buffalo and gather dandelions, while four or more grandparents plus other relations and children care for each other.

prediction:

Other things being normal, an extended family will probably succeed in ensuring its well-being and prosperity, and in contributing to the well-being and prosperity of others.

vision:

Ideally, tribal existence includes existence as extended families, clans, tribes, and nations.

prescription:

We should continue to be or become extended families.

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I.(b) a Social Ethical Analysis of Family
Based Upon Modern Family Values:

interpretive theme:

Family is important and good.

description:

According to recent modern family values and practices, the ideally normal family is a nuclear family.
A nuclear family consists of two parents, or less ideally, of one parent, and one or more offspring. Normally two parents, or one parent, aspire(s) to hunt buffalo or secure the wheat-bread-money, gather dandelions or bake bread-etc, care for children, and perhaps contribute to the well-being of their parents.

prediction:

Other things being normal, without significant help from outside the nucleous, a nuclear family will probably fail to ensuring its well-being and prosperity, and will probably fail in contributing to the well-being and prosperity of others.

vision:

Ideal modern existence includes existence as finacially wealthy nuclear families.

prescription:

We should continue to be or become financially wealthy, so that we can purchase significant help from outside the nucleous.

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[Return to start of Social Ethical Analysis of Family.]

II. a Prescription to Modern Nuclear Families
from a Traditional Tribal Perspective:

The modern nuclear family structure is less extended than the traditional tribal family structure with regard to space (the tribal structure embracing a larger circle of contemporary relatives) and with regard to time (the tribal structure embracing more generations, including the seventh generation to come).

The present crisis in modern family life and the increasingly unfortunate circumstances that will probably result from a continuation of present trends, indicate the modern nuclear family is inadequately extended.

Changes in modern family values and structures are called for.

In addition to (and in the long run, more important than) seeking more money with which to purchase help from outside the nucleous, modern nuclear families should value and seek more extended tribal structures, structures embracing larger circles of relations and concerns.

Traditional tribal wisdom prescribes more righteous tribalism to modern nuclear families.

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most recent update: 24 March 1997
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NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT: copyright 1997 Theodore Walker, Jr. This copyright covers all content and formatting (browser-visible and HTML text) in this and attached documents created by Theodore Walker, Jr. c@Theodore Walker, Jr.
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