Conversation took an interesting turn with a few lively political philosophy undergrads who liked, or thought they liked, self-government and free markets.

I suggested that institutions such as the republic and the free market can’t function properly without virtue.

They enthusiastically agreed.

I suggested that these institutions cannot provide themselves with virtue – it has to come from somewhere else.

Like schools? they asked.

No, I suggested, schools can’t compensate for disordered families.  At best they reinforce the lessons of sound ones.

After considering the claim, again they agreed.

And families, I suggested, won’t be healthy unless Mom and Dad remain faithful to each other.

Right!  Right!

And that won’t happen unless we give up the idea that sex is an amusement unrelated to turning the wheel of the generations.

Dead silence.