Topics Ethics

Question Is it morally wrong to only want to marry someone from your own ethnic group?

Accepted:
November 27, 2005

Comments

Simply put, no.

Doing so, however, may be immoral if the reasons why one wants to marry only someone from one's own ethnic group are immoral. For example, it would be immoral to only want to marry someone from one's own ethnic group in order to produce children belonging to that group for purposes of creating a dominant population, especially an invasive and newly dominant population, and this because one regarded one's own ethnic group as the natural superior to others.

It would also, I think, be morally diminished, though under many circumstances not strictly wrong, to only want to marry someone from one's own ethnic group only because that person belonged to one's ethnic group--so long as one is honest about it. It's preferable to consider other factors in marriage as well.

All things being equal, it is also morally preferable (more excellent) to consider partners from other groups.

Note, in addition, that there's a difference between "wanting" or "desiring" only members of one's own group and limiting oneself to that group by repressing one's desires for those outside the group. Other things being equal, this sort of repression is morally undesireable.

On the other hand, not that in many circumstances taking ethnic background into consideration as one factor among many is permissible and even desirable. Doing so may stem from a sense of the personal requirements of compatibility, a desire to perpetuate or preserve the ethnic group and its valuable features (especially if it is an oppressed ethnic group), or an appreciation of the beauties and excellences of one's ethnic traditions, etc. Minority groups or groups that have been historically oppressed (like Jews and blacks, for example) may for example find it morally desirable to consider ethnic background for as a way of preserving their ethnic cultures.

Again, however, there's a significant difference between taking ethnicity into consideration and prohibiting the wanting or the marrying of people across ethnic lines. The requirements of individual liberty ultimately trump the desire even the duty to preserve ethnic groups.

Question Is it morally wrong to only want to marry someone from your own ethnic group? Accepted:November 27, 2005

Question Is it morally wrong to only want to marry someone from your own ethnic group?

Accepted:
November 27, 2005