Olga Vlachynská, a Czech psychologist, is sweeping across social media. Mainstream outlets, including public broadcasters, have long since taken notice. She promotes an alternative way of life grounded in unlimited affection for an unlimited number of partners. She herself describes it, bluntly, as “being a slut.” At times she offers observations that sound intelligent; at others, she lapses into combative slogans such as “away with monogamy.” She has a solid following, and naturally an even larger number of critics who reject these ideas outright.
I will use this as an example of what I consider a healthy attitude toward innovation. We would not want Ms. Vlachynská setting family policy or school curricula. Yet, in principle, we ought to be grateful to her and her adherents. At their own expense and risk, they are testing a possible innovation. It may prove so compelling that an entire generation will choose to live this way. Or perhaps the only result will be fractured relationships and emotional harm. More likely—at least to my mind—it will not function as a coherent whole, but may yield a few useful insights. Or it may turn out to suit a small minority while remaining unworkable for most. In any case, why not give them the chance—so long as they seek it for themselves, do not impose it on others, and do not demand enforced “respect”?
One may reasonably ask whether this is truly an innovation at all. It may instead resemble a fragment of a 1960s countercultural commune, transported forward in time. Even so, the underlying principle still holds.