Natural Freedom

In Sex and Culture (1934), Unwin studied 80 primitive tribes and 6 known civilizations through 5,000 years of history and found a positive correlation between the cultural achievement of a people and the sexual restraint they observe.

J.D. Unwin, an Oxford anthropologist, conducted a comprehensive study of 86 societies and civilizations to understand the factors contributing to their rise and fall. His key findings can be summarized as follows:

Cultural Energy: Unwin proposed that the vitality and success of a civilization are closely linked to its cultural energy, which he defined as the collective enthusiasm and commitment of its members to shared values and goals.

Sexual Morality: One of his most controversial conclusions was that societies that practiced strict sexual morality tended to be more successful and stable. He argued that societies that allowed for greater sexual freedom often experienced a decline in cultural energy and cohesion, leading to eventual collapse.

Stages of Development: Unwin identified different stages of societal development, suggesting that civilizations typically progress from a state of high cultural energy and moral restraint to one of decline characterized by increased sexual freedom and moral laxity.

Impact of Freedom: He noted that while initial freedom and liberalization can lead to a flourishing society, over time, this can result in a loss of social cohesion and a decline in the civilization's overall strength.

Historical Patterns: Unwin's analysis indicated that the patterns of rise and fall were consistent across various cultures and historical periods, suggesting a universal principle regarding the relationship between sexual morality and societal stability.

Overall, Unwin's work emphasized the importance of cultural values and social cohesion in the longevity and success of civilizations, positing that moral frameworks play a crucial role in their sustainability.

J.D. Unwin's exploration of sexual morality in relation to the rise and fall of civilizations is one of the most provocative aspects of his research. Here are more detailed points regarding this concept:

Definition of Sexual Morality: Unwin defined sexual morality as the societal norms and values that regulate sexual behavior, including the institution of marriage, fidelity, and the general attitudes toward sexual relationships. He posited that societies with strict sexual codes tended to foster stronger social bonds and a greater sense of community.

Cultural Energy and Cohesion: Unwin argued that sexual morality contributes to what he termed "cultural energy," which is the collective enthusiasm and commitment of individuals within a society. He believed that when sexual behavior is regulated and aligned with societal values, it enhances social cohesion, leading to a more unified and productive society.

Historical Examples: In his study, Unwin examined various civilizations, including the Romans, Greeks, and early Christian societies. He noted that as these societies became more permissive regarding sexual behavior, they often experienced a decline in cultural energy, which he associated with a weakening of social structures and values.

Cycle of Decline: Unwin proposed a cyclical pattern in which societies that initially thrive due to strong sexual morality eventually become more liberal and permissive. This shift, he argued, leads to a decline in social cohesion, increased individualism, and a loss of shared values, ultimately resulting in societal collapse or transformation.

Impact on Family Structure: He emphasized the importance of the family unit as a cornerstone of societal stability. In societies with strong sexual morality, families tended to be more stable, with clear roles and responsibilities. As sexual norms relaxed, family structures often became more fragmented, contributing to social instability.

Moral Frameworks and Governance: Unwin also suggested that societies with strong moral frameworks were better equipped to establish effective governance and social order. He believed that moral clarity provided a foundation for laws and social norms that promote the common good, whereas moral ambiguity could lead to chaos and conflict.

Critique and Controversy: Unwin's conclusions have been met with criticism and debate. Some scholars argue that his emphasis on sexual morality oversimplifies the complex factors that contribute to societal success or failure. Others contend that his findings reflect cultural biases and may not be universally applicable across different societies and historical contexts.

In summary, Unwin's analysis of sexual morality posits that the regulation of sexual behavior plays a crucial role in the stability and longevity of civilizations. He argued that societies that maintain strong moral codes around sexuality are more likely to experience cultural vitality and cohesion, while those that embrace permissiveness may face decline and fragmentation.

Oxford anthropologist J.D. Unwin studied 86 societies and civilizations to see why some collapse and others don't.

What did he find?

That sexual debauchery leads to the collapse of a civilization within 3 generations. (thread) 🧵
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Unwin defined four categories of cultures. Each is differentiated in its pursuit of art, engineering, literature, agriculture, etc.

1. Dead - these cultures are only focused on the day-to-day needs of life. They don't care about higher questions and so do not progress.

2. Superstitious - these cultures develop beliefs that help them explain the natural world. This can be represented in the special treatment of the dead.

3. Deistic - characterized by belief in gods or a god. This requires more imagination and higher-order thinking

4. Rationalistic - characterized by rational thinking. This was the category with the most human flourishing.

Next, Unwin defined sexual ethics and restraint into two categories.
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Unwin's two categories of sexual ethics and restraint:

- Prenuptial - this was measured on a scale from complete sexual freedom to "remain a virgin until married."

- Postnuptial - how easy is it to get a divorce? How many wives can a man have? How faithful are the women expected to be?

What did he find?
The single most influential factor in a civilization's longevity and success is prenuptial chastity.

If people were expected to remain virgins until marriage, the culture was more likely to have all of the markers of human flourishing.

They were more likely to be an "advanced" civilization.
What was the best combination, resulting in a culture that exceeds other cultures?

You probably won't be surprised.

Prenuptial chastity combined with absolute monogamy. Absolute monogamy means one spouse for life.
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Why was prenuptial chastity the most important?

In cultures where virginity was no longer expected, within three generations, the following disappeared:

- absolute monogamy
- deism
- rational thinking
Without prenuptial chastity, people usually regress into the lowest "dead" category as they become interested only in their own wants and needs.

They become slaves to their appetites.

Cultures that have embraced total sexual freedom collapse within three generations.

They might limp along for a time, powered by some momentum, but eventually, they are conquered or taken over by another culture.
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In the West, the sexual revolution started in the late 1960's. Three generations (~40 years each) from then would put us in the 2070s.

Are we on the way to collapse?

The evidence points to "yes."
You cannot have both sexual freedom and progress.

Unwin: "Any human society is free to choose either to display great energy or to enjoy sexual freedom; the evidence is that it cannot do both for more than one generation."
Sexual freedom unleashes all sorts of demons on a society.

Couple it with modern medicine, which basically baptizes sexual debauchery with antibiotics and abortion, and you have an acceleration of collapse.

Slaves are too busy having orgies to be truly productive.
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It turns out that marriage is not just a private contract between two individuals.

It has ramifications for the entire community and culture.

How a society views and treats marriage determines whether or not it will keep things like indoor plumbing and modern dentistry.

What two (or more) people do together in the bedroom is not, indeed, a private matter.

Writ large, it has consequences for that entire civilization.
Likewise, porn is cultural cancer.

It rots the bones.

A healthy civilization, or one that wants to progress, will want to eradicate it or push it to the fringes of society. Porn leads to other debaucheries.
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Looking at the current state of our culture, is there any hope to avoid collapse? It looks bleak.

Even recently, close to a pandemic, we've even people engaging in orgies and other risky sexual behavior, despite a new disease called monkeypox.

They really are slaves to their passions.
The good news: a culture can be turned around. Massive repentance can bear fruit.

But based on the data, it also takes three generations for improvements to start showing up.

Sexual ethics is a powerful rudder, but it is still a rudder on a huge, lumbering ship. Better start turning the wheel.