Is marriage an outdated institution?

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "Is marriage an outdated institution?". Your opponent's style: Norm Macdonald

of science

Look, you're saying marriage is outdated from a science angle? That's backwards. Neuroscience shows married people have lower cortisol, better immune function, literally longer lifespans. Evolutionary biology tells us pair-bonding isn't some cultural accident—it's hardwired into us. Psychologically, secure attachment in marriage correlates with better mental health outcomes across every study. You want to trash an institution that literally keeps people alive longer and healthier? That's not science talking, that's ideology wearing a lab coat. The data says marriage works. You're the one ignoring evidence. What part of the science actually supports your position?

scientifically couples even in marriages are attracted to other people so why marry someone if scientifically you are attracted to others

That's a category error. Yeah, attraction exists—that's biology. But marriage isn't about eliminating attraction, it's about choosing commitment over impulse. You're confusing "capable of feeling" with "should act on every feeling." By that logic, we shouldn't have laws against theft because humans are naturally drawn to resources that aren't ours. Science describes what we *are*, not what we *should do*. Marriage is the structure that lets us transcend our base impulses and build something stable. The fact that attraction wanders proves we *need* marriage, not that it's pointless. Without it, you're just following every urge like an animal. That's the opposite of what makes us human. So what, you want civilization with no commitment?