Radio Q&A: Sunday, 10 June 2012
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday, 10 June 2012, I answered questions on staying objective, deliberately unhealthy choices, consuming celebrity news, refuting Marxist arguments, and more. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was my co-host.
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.
My News of the Week: I've been busy programming, and I'm considering running an online reading group on personality theory. Let me know if you're interested!
Listen Now 
- Duration: 1:03:27
Download the Episode
- Download: Enhanced M4A File (15.4 MB)
- Download: Standard MP3 File (14.6 MB)
To automatically download new podcast episodes to your computer, subscribe to the podcast feed of Philosophy in Action:
- Enhanced M4A Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader
- Standard MP3 Feed: Subscribe in iTunes or your RSS reader
Share This Episode
Segments: 10 June 2012
Question 1: Staying Objective (3:18)
Question: How can a person be certain of his own objectivity? It's often difficult to stick to the facts in reasoning, and it's even harder to make sure that you're focused on all and only the relevant facts. How can a person know that he's being objective – as opposed to relying on unwarranted assumptions, ignoring relevant facts, or rationalizing what he wants to be true?
Answer, In Brief: Objectivity is not easy, but a person can keep his thinking tethered to reality by carefully monitoring and directing his mental processes.
Tags: Emotions, Epistemology, Ethics, Introspection, Objectivity, Rationality
Listen or Download 
Relevant Links
Comments
Question 2: Deliberately Unhealthy Choices (25:10)
Question: Is it moral to smoke, drink, or eat unhealthy foods if one recognizes the costs of doing so? Suppose a friend makes a deliberate decision to eat foods he know to be unhealthy (such as frequent sugary desserts). He knows that it might harm his health, but he says that the personal enjoyment and satisfaction outweigh the risk of shortened lifespan and possible future harmful health effects. In other words, he claims he is making a rational choice to maximize his overall happiness. Is that moral?
Answer, In Brief: Risks and trade-offs are inherent in life, and a person is not obliged to maximize lifespan. However, in this case, the person is likely discounting the troubles and pains of future health problems, as well as indulging in compulsions rather than genuine pleasures.
Tags: Ethics, Health, Nutrition, Nutrition, Paleo, Pleasure, Risk
Listen or Download
Relevant Links
Comments
Question 3: Consuming Celebrity News (35:40)
Question: Is consuming celebrity news self-destructive? Is there anything wrong with being interested in celebrities and entertainment news? Does "celebrity culture" foster destructive values in people?
Answer, In Brief: There's nothing wrong with seeking to know and admire people for their achievements or learn from their failures, but "celebrity news" per se mostly ranges from time-wasting to nihilistic.
Tags: Celebrities, Ethics, Hobbies
Listen or Download
Comments
Question 4: Refuting Marxist Arguments (45:36)
Question: How can I effectively counter Marxist economic arguments? My family and friends often advocate Marxist economic ideas – for example, that wealth should be redistributed according to need, that corporations and corporate profits are evil, and that rich people have too much money. How can I best respond to these arguments?
Answer, In Brief: If a person is open to argument, you need to focus on his underlying moral premises. Be friendly, speak to his context, and address his concerns.
Tags: Altruism, Collectivism, Communication, Economics, Ethics, Politics
Listen or Download
Relevant Links
Comments
Rapid Fire Questions (58:29)
- Is environmental racism – the claim that minority groups are subject to greater pollution – a genuine problem?
- Is the the race between Obama and Romney comparable between a hypothetical one between Toohey and Thompson?
Listen or Download
Comments
Conclusion (1:02:14)
Thank you for joining us for this episode of Philosophy in Action Radio! If you enjoyed this episode, please contribute to contribute to our tip jar.
Support Philosophy in Action
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.
Thank you, if you've contributed to Philosophy in Action! You make our work possible every week, and we're so grateful for that!
If you enjoy Philosophy in Action, please help us spread the word about it! Tell your friends about upcoming broadcasts by forwarding our newsletter. Link to episodes or segments from our topics archive. Share our blog posts, podcasts, and events on Facebook and Twitter. Rate and review the podcast in iTunes (M4A and MP3). We appreciate any and all of that!
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.
If you join us for the live broadcasts, you can ask follow-up questions and make comments in the text-based chat. Otherwise, you can listen to the podcast by subscribing to our Podcast RSS Feed. You can also peruse the show archives, where episodes and questions are sorted by date and by topic.
For regular updates, commentary, and humor, read my blog NoodleFood and subscribe to its Blog RSS Feed. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and connect on social media too.
I can be reached via e-mail to [email protected].
Copyright Diana Hsieh | Web | Email | Twitter | Facebook