In my opinion, Islam allows polygamy as a way to protect orphans and widows and maintain population numbers in society during natural catastrophes and war. That too, only under specific circumstances with especially vulernable women.
In the example of the prophet p, we find he practiced monogamy with his first wife, even when others were dying of famines, plagues, floods and earthquakes in addition to wars. As another example, Ali r asked the Prophet for permission to take a second wife, and the prophet replied, only after he divorces Fatimah. So Ali remained monogamous with his first wife as did the prophet.
As far as polygamy is concerned, it is only after the death of his first wife, during these catastrophic times that he participated in polygamy with women who would have been rejected by society. Here it needs to be remembered that even Aish r came from a broken engagement (i.e. rejected by another man), which tarnished her reputation in a soiciety in which women were often considered at best a commodity and at worse a humiliating burrden.
Hence, from an ethical point of view, polygamy is okay in Islam if:
There is a natural catastrophe like the one in the days of the Prophet p.
The man is a widower (first wife has passed away).
The women are widowed, divorced or possibly orphaned, marrying because they need a man to take care of them.
The man has resources to take care of these wives.
^Thank you.....and here i was repeating this over and over again..in multiple threads..thinking..maybe just maybe..it will make sense to people under the impression....."men are horny.. thus need to have multiple wives to prove it."