SonicSP wrote:If he is rich, then the idea that people want to join his family isn't surprising. Like what was mentioned, if resources are even more scarce, that makes it an even more attractive proposition. It's common for kings to have a polygyny situation (one men with many women) in ancient times even if resources are scarce for the average person, who usually can't afford them. It's because kings are rich and can personally afford it in addition to them actually wanting their bloodline to survive as well as possible. Resource distribution among the population is usually uneven with some people being richer than others.Mythgarr wrote:What is the mission of this anime in showing that one of the character practice polygamy and his harem seems to be happy with it?
The culture of space is scarce in resources and it's better to focus on a single man with many children from different mothers than support lots of men and lots of mothers?
It doesn't appear to be a normal thing anyways, given the reaction of the other characters to finding it out. At least not one of this magnitude. He's just a rich guy who can afford it.
I wonder whether polygyny is more common at the start of PD calendar though? If a lot of people died in the hugely destructive war, it would be one way to encourage population growth. Even moreso if a lot of men happened to have died for whatever reason. Resource limitations may be an issue but population growth is also an important aspect to grow your economy, especially people of working age. Many countries today are entering into long term economic issues because of aging populations, mainly because the baby boomer generation is starting to retire.
In the past, post war populations will have a good chunk of widows, children, and crippled men. Many of the widows of the conquered populations will be used as slaves or concubines and their children sold or be absorbed into the families of winner party. It can be seen as beneficial to the widows and children or can be seen as an abuse, depends on the cultures.
That's why polygamy are plenty in the past. To think that a space faring community can look at it without batting an eye can be seen as their pragmatic way of thinking: the dude is rich, providing, and protecting, so let's fussing no further and marry him.
The next problem would be the siblings rivalries in the future and their need of expanding the families otherwise genetic bottleneck will occur (unless they have genetic engineering to such a degree that harmful recessive genes can be cut out), that would definitely be a potential for disasters and endless battles, just like the past 600 years.
On the aging populations, SonicSP, I don't know whether you're saying that there are too many old people in your country or the young ones are less numerous than the old one. If the former, rejoice, you can see yourself reaching old age in your country, if the later, well, go and make more children!