Forgiveness, Meaning of Life, Online IP, and More: 29 April 2012: Philosophy in Action

Webcast Q&A: Sunday, 29 April 2012

In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday, 29 April 2012, I answered questions on the wrong of utilitarianism, the morality of working a government job, optimal planning, padding your application, and more. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was my co-host.

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Duration: 1:02:34

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Segments: 29 April 2012

Question 1: The Wrong of Utilitarianism (4:04)

Question: What's wrong with utilitarianism? The basic principle of utilitarianism is "the greatest happiness for the greatest number." What's wrong with that as a moral standard? Shouldn't a person act for the good of society?

Answer, In Brief: Utilitarianism claims that every person obliged to promote greatest happiness for the greater number. It's an utterly wrong moral theory based on unjustified hedonism, egalitarianism, and collectivism. When put into practice, the result is massive injustice and misery.

Tags: Collectivism, Egalitarianism, Ethics, Hedonism, Philosophy, Utilitarianism

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Question 2: The Morality of Working a Government Job (22:02)

Question: Is it moral to work for the IRS? Is it morally wrong to work for government agencies like the IRS (or equivalent tax bureaus), IAS (Indian Administrative Services), or the EPA? I'm an advocate of free markets. Would I be a hypocrite to work for such illegitimate government agencies?

Answer, In Brief: The morality of working for an illegitimate government agency depends on the kind of work that you’ll be done. In many cases, far better to be on welfare.

Tags: Career, Ethics, Government, Integrity, Work

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Question 3: Optimal Planning (31:50)

Question: How much advance planning is optimal? Some people like to plan everything well in advance, while others prefer to allow events to unfold and make decisions on the fly. Is one approach better than the other? How much does it depend on the circumstances? How can people with different preferences coordinate comfortably?

Answer, In Brief: There is a reasonable range of preferences for planning based on personality differences and circumstances, with pathology on both extremes.

Tags: Ethics, Personality, Planning

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Question 4: Padding Your Application (41:51)

Question: Is doing activities just to pad you application or resumé dishonest? Some people work on mastering playing the violin, competing in tennis tournaments, learning calculus, and other activities – not because they have any interest in them or because they think they might develop an interest once tried, but rather because they think these activities will look good on an application or resumé. Is that dishonest? Is it unwise?

Answer, In Brief: A person can make himself a better applicant by various means, and so long as he’s not claiming to have interests or qualities that he doesn’t have, that’s not a moral problem.

Tags: College, Education, Ethics, Honesty, Independence, Integrity, Work

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Rapid Fire Questions (51:43)

In this segment, I answered random questions chosen by Greg Perkins impromptu. The questions were:

Who owns the moon?
How should I respond to a friend always giving me unsolicited advice?
Is respecting the rights of others an unchosen obligation?
Where's the line between being sensitive to the feelings of others and being second-handed?
What do you think of the idea of "guilty pleasures"?

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Conclusion (1:01:34)

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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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