An Argument for Marriage

In a recent article in this journal, Dan Moller presents two important arguments against marriage.¹ One examines several ways in which the marriage promise can be explained, and shows that none of them is viable.² The other argues that marriage may not be a worthwhile enterprise since marriages frequently fail, in that they become loveless or end in divorce (79, 80---81).3 I will argue here that there is another way, which Moller does not consider, of explaining the marriage promise that would render it viable; and that notwithstanding the failure of many marriages, this enterprise can still be worthwhile.