Political liberalism requires the disestablishment of monogamous amatonormative marriage. The central argument of Part Two, Democratizing Marriage, is that liberal reasons for recognizing same-sex marriage also require recognition of groups, polyamorists, polygamists, friends, urban tribes, and adult care networks. The discussion raises issues of independent interest for the moral philosopher such as the possibilities and bounds of interpersonal moral obligations and the nature of commitment. Further, the special value accorded marriage sustains amatonormative discrimination - discrimination against non-amorous or non-exclusive caring relationships such as friendships, adult care networks, polyamorous groups, or urban tribes.

The book contends with the most influential philosophical accounts of the moral value of marriage to argue that marriage has no inherent moral significance. In Part One, De-Moralizing Marriage, essays on promise and commitment argue that we cannot promise to love and so wedding vows are (mostly) failed promises, and that marriage may be a poor commitment strategy. Yet what moral significance does it have? This book examines its morally salient features - promise, commitment, care, and contract - with surprising results. Martin’s Press, 2000).Even in secular and civil contexts, marriage retains sacramental connotations.

“Marriage, Influence and Deception in Merchant Ivory’s Adaptations of The Europeans and The Bostonians,” in: Henry James on the Stage and Screen, ed.

“Love’s Paradox: Hegel’s Account of Marriage,” Women’s Philosophy Review, Special Issue on Hegel (journal of U.K.

“A Liberal Response to Catharine MacKinnon,” Southwest Philosophical Studies 22 (2001).

“Responsibility, Paternity, and the Costs of Rearing Children: Do Abortion Rights Undermine Child Support Obligations?,” Archiv für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie (Beihefte), Part 1: Justice (Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2004) 211-218.

“Rawls and Feminism: What Should Feminists Make of Liberal Neutrality?,” Journal of Moral Philosophy 1 (2004) 295-312.

Alan Soble (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005).

“Hegel” and “Kant,” in Sex from Plato to Paglia: A Philosophical Encyclopedia, ed.

“Justice and Virtue in Kant’s Account of Marriage,” Kantian Review 9 (2005)58-94.

“Fatherhood and Child Support: Do Men Have a Right to Choose?,” Journal of Applied Philosophy 22 (2005) 55-73.

She is currently writing a book-length manuscript entitled “Defending ‘Minimal Marriage’: Marriage, Ethics and the Law.” Publications Professor Brake is the recipient of a Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Standard Research Grant for 2005-2008.

Her areas of specialization include ethics, political philosophy, feminist philosophy, and philosophy and literature.

She received her doctorate in philosophy from the University of St. Elizabeth Brake is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Calgary.

Minimizing Marriage by Elizabeth Brake