Relational Uncertainty

Synonyms

Uncertainty of biological kinship

Definition

The term relationship uncertainty here does not refer to uncertainty about the status of a current romantic relationship but to a biological kinship uncertainty due to paternity uncertainty. For example, how certain is the biological relationship between two cousins where maximally two links of doubted paternity (father, father’s brother) can be involved?

Introduction

Already Roman law stated that only motherhood is certain, and paternity uncertainty was also dealt with in the new law introduced with the Code Napoléon (for example, “Scrutiny as to paternity is forbidden.” Title VII. Of paternity and filiation, Chap. III. Of natural children). Maternity certainty has remained certain, except for occasional mix-ups in maternity wards, until in-vitro fertilization became possible several decades ago. But for the long natural history of humans, paternity uncertainty threatened males to misdirect their costly paternal investment into the...