A Horizon to Contemplate the Transfomations of the Family in the Contemporary

Abstract

From the notion of family as a complex, ecosystemic and co-evolutive institution, and with a generative and purposeful position, this article presents paradigmatic and conceptual principles to understand family transformations, identify significant historic and social markers in the transformation of the contemporary family and makes suggestions to formulate policies on family. It postulates three major frames of reference: biopolitics and positioning of the family in relation to the society and the State; complexity and notions of crisis, transformation, and change; eco-etho-anthropo- social and historical connection of family with other social institutions. Biopolitics warns about the risks of State domination on the family as a means of containment of individuals. E. Morin raises how certain trends that generate crisis can stabilize sustainable transformations; and eco-etho-anthropology recalls the implications of our nature of thinking mammals, ecodepending of the changing environment to achieve the adaptation. It is concluded that policies should recognize that the macro-system constituted by family-State-society will operate effectively if it is conceived as a mega-pluralist machine, where decisions are carried from the poli centrism and the acentrism, assuming the ethical implications of the ecology of the action.