Abstract
An adequate legal theory of the family can neither rest on nor ignore the heuristic devices that have been invoked by courts and commentators. Both internally and in relation to other social institutions, families are far too varied in structure and operation and too localized in meaning to be captured so easily. Nonetheless, some way of expressing important normative judgments about family relationships is required. Viewing the family as a system, both in its internal organization and functions and in relation to other social structures, may provide a way of accommodating seemingly opposed images of the family as a unit and as a collection of individuals.
Recommended Citation
Teitelbaum, Lee E.
(1996)
"The Family as a System: A Preliminary Sketch,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 1996:
No.
2, Article 6.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol1996/iss2/6