Radio Q&A: Sunday, 9 September 2012
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday, 9 September 2012, I answered questions on fear of rape, conflicts between family members, prayers of atheists, bans on smoking, 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.
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Segments: 9 September 2012
Question 1: Fear of Rape (3:45)
Question: Should men be sensitive to women's fears of being raped? Recently, I became aware of an ongoing debate among the online atheist community regarding proper conduct of men toward women they do not know. In a June 2011 video reporting on a conference, "Skepchik" Rebecca Watson talked about her experience of being asked to the room of a strange man in an elevator at 4 am. That invitation made her very uncomfortable, and she thought it was very wrong to so sexualize her. Her comments created a firestorm of controversy. Do you think that men need to be sensitive to women's fears about being raped? Should women have such fears around unknown men?
Answer, In Brief: When dealing with strangers, a person should always be aware of the context, so as to avoid seeming to be threatening to the other person. Moreover, men need to take some extra care in dealing with women they won't know. That's because women are more physically vulnerable than men, and because prominent women are often subject to threatening sexual harassment.
Tags: Atheism, Communication, Crime, Dating, Ethics, Feminism, Harassment, Rape, Respect, Rights, Sexism, Violence
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Question 2: Conflicts Between Family Members (26:02)
Question: How can I stay out of conflicts between family members? When two people you love have competing claims about the facts in a conflict between them, how do not imply that one or the other is lying? My daughter said she told my wife something important. My wife said my daughter didn't say anything about it. How can you react without destroying one or the other's trust? I wasn't there: I can believe or dis-believe either one. But I am forced by each to choose. When I refuse to choose sides, I'm still subjected to being accused of taking the other's side and calling each one a liar. What can I do to make peace, at least with me?
Answer, In Brief: It's wrong to choose sides in a dispute when you don't know the facts, particularly when the most likely scenario is miscommunication. You should refuse to particpate in any attempts to make you a pawn in this battle between your wife and daughter – even if they protest.
Tags: Conflicts, Ethics, Family, Justice, Manipulation, Parenting, Rationality
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Question 3: Prayers of Atheists (34:39)
Question: Is it wrong for an atheist to pray? I used to be a Christian, but I've not believed in God for many years. However, I still pray when I'm under stress, even though I know that it doesn't accomplish anything. What's the harm in praying to a non-existent being?
Answer, In Brief: It is wrong for an atheist to pray: it's degrading to your integrity, and it's poor thinking.
Tags: Atheism, Epistemology, Integrity, Prayer, Psycho-Epistemology
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Question 4: Bans on Smoking (42:27)
Question: Do smoking bans violate rights? Cities are banning smoking in private businesses like bars and even smoke shops. Are these bans immoral – meaning, do they violate rights? Does second-hand smoke violate the rights of non-smoking patrons or employees? What should be the policy for government-owned property like parks, court houses, sidewalks, etc?
Answer, In Brief: The government has no right to ban or regulate smoking on other people's property, but it can do so for reasons of common courtesy on its own property.
Tags: Ethics, Etiquette, Law, Politics, Rights, Smoking, Torts
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Rapid Fire Questions (56:26)
- Which Atlas Shrugged character would be best suited to be the President of the United States?
- Mitt gets elected but falls Ill and Ryan becomes an Objectivist after a debate with his interns. If this happened what would be your reaction?
- Should a government engage in hacking or denial of service attacks? If so, under what conditions?
- Some people when told that free will is something they experience directly say that they don't experience it. Or if they do couldn't know that what they feel is free will. How can I respond to that?
- Can people sexually attracted to children respect rights?
- Would the Defense Department be justified in hacking WikiLeaks to stop the site from releasing sensitive intelligence information?
- Are military education benefits a proper function of government?
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Conclusion (1:07:08)
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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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