First account: On the progressive household of the seventh period, and on the discontents of the sexes in the incoherent household

Summary

The progressive household I am going to describe is a domestic order belonging to the seventh and twenty-sixth periods, occupying a position midway between the incoherent household of barbarism and Civilisation and the combined household which reigns during the eighteen periods of universal harmony.

In the progressive household, men [and women] enjoy such an agreeable and comfortable existence that it would be impossible to persuade any of them to embark on the kind of permanent marriage which isolated households require.

Before speaking of the customs which arise as a result of the absence of marriage, I shall examine the reasons for civilised man's blind prejudice in favour of permanent marriage.

It must be remembered that I admit the necessity of this bond in Civilisation and that I am criticising it by comparison with the new social order, in which different circumstances will call for a freedom in love which is inadmissible in our society. It must also be remembered that on matters of marriage, household life and other questions you should assume an exception of one-eighth from my general assertions.

Order of matters dealt with in the First Account

On the discontents of men in incoherent households.

On the progressive household or nine-group tribe.

On the method of union of the sexes in the seventh period.

On the degradation of women in Civilisation.

On the correctives which will have led into the sixth period, such as the amorous majority, the amorous corporations, etc.

On the vices of the system which oppresses love.