Webcast Q&A: Sunday, 27 March 2011
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday, 27 March 2011, I answered questions on immoral means to great values, optional values versus moral values, adoption versus abortion, the excuse of 'I'm only human', Objectivist conferences, laws and regulations, and more. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was my co-host.
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Segments: 27 March 2011
Question 1: Immoral Means to Great Values (6:11)
Question: Is it ever acceptable to act immorally if one is willing to accept the consequences? This question was sparked by a statement in the 9 January 2011 webcast that it would be wrong to deceive a partner in order to save a relationship. Are there ever cases where one cares so much about a particular value that it can be legitimate to act immorally (and thus, in all probability, hurt one's own life) in order to gain or keep that value? For example, what if life were not worth living without that value?
Answer, In Brief: To act viciously in pursuit of a value destroys the actual worth of that value – and degrades your own moral character.
Tags: Ethics, Relationships, Romance, Values, Work
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Question 2: Optional Values Versus Moral Values (15:31)
Question: Are "optional values" genuine values? Sometimes Objectivists distinguish between "moral values" and "optional values." What does that mean? Is the distinction legitimate? How does it apply to real life?
Answer, In Brief: Optional values genuinely promote a person's life and happiness, but they are not universally necessary, but rather depend on a person's particular circumstances.
Tags: Ethics, Personal Values
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Question 3: Adoption Versus Abortion (22:35)
Question: Why do you think that giving a child up for adoption can be "problematic"? Why wouldn't adoption be preferable to abortion in most cases? (This question is a follow-up to the discussion in the 23 January 2011 webcast about children as an optional value.)
Answer, In Brief: Adoption is a wonderful option in many cases, but the differences between an embryo or early-stage fetus and born baby often make adoption far more emotionally and morally difficult.
Tags: Abortion, Adoption, Children, Ethics, Parenting, Pregnancy
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Question 4: The Excuse of "I'm Only Human" (31:16)
Question: What do you think of the oft-quoted bromide "I'm only human"? I have heard that phrase often, and it seems there are several uses to which it is applied, some legitimate and some seem nefarious and ugly.
Answer, In Brief: The phrase has two distinct meanings – "don't expect me to be good" and "hey, pay attention to my limits." The former is a false excuse (and often vile), while the latter is a useful reminder. Due to these mixed meanings, the phrase is perhaps best avoided.
Tags: Ethics, Language, Responsibility
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Question 5: Objectivist Conferences (37:45)
Question: What are the benefits of attending Objectivist conferences in person? I know that there are several regional Objectivist conferences this year in addition to the Ayn Rand Institute's OCON. What are the benefits of attending these in person, rather than just listening to the lectures via a webcast or buying the lectures afterwards?
Answer, In Brief: Objectivist conferences offer huge benefits in the form of social interaction and networking, even apart from the lectures!
Tags: Friendship, Objectivist Movement, Relationships
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Question 6: Laws and Regulations (46:07)
Question: Are regulations necessarily different from laws? Regulations do not violate the presumption of innocence – they are jurisprudential signals. A law against murder does not violate the presumption of innocence; rather, it is a signal that denotes a consequence that will be levied upon the violator of the law. This is the same standard that regulations follow. A law is a "regulation" on behavior in the way that legislative regulations are, in fact, "regulations" on business behavior. Is this a correct assessment of laws and regulations?
Answer, In Brief: Legislation differs from regulations on two axes: the source of the laws and their objectivity.
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Conclusion (57:13)
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Remember, Philosophy in Action Radio is available to anyone, free of charge. That's because our goal is to spread rational principles for real life far and wide, as we do every week to thousands of listeners. We love producing every episode, but each requires requires our time, effort, and money – week in and week out. So if you enjoy and value our work, please contribute to our tip jar. We suggest $5 per episode or $20 per month, but any amount is appreciated. You can send your contribution via Dwolla, PayPal, or US Mail.
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About Philosophy in Action Radio
I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My dissertation defended moral responsibility and moral judgment against the doubts raised by Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.
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