Bringing Children into a Statist World
Q&A Radio: Sunday, 13 January 2013, Question 3
In the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on 13 January 2013, I answered a question on bringing children into a statist world.
Is it wrong to have children in an increasingly irrational and statist culture? People should think about the long-range effects of their actions, and act based on principles. So if a person thinks that our culture is in decline – and perhaps even slipping into dictatorship – is it wrong for that person to have children? Is such an assessment accurate? Along similar lines, were people wrong to have children in the Soviet Union and other dictatorships?
My Answer, In Brief: If you don't want to have children, that's fine, but don't use the ridiculous dogma of secular apocalypticism to justify that decision. Life, particularly for children, is better than ever before.
Tags: Apocalypticism, Children, Culture, Parenting, Politics
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- Duration: 8:54
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Relevant Links
- Philosophy in Action: Apocalypticism, particularly The Good in American Culture
- Wikipedia: Infant Mortality in the US
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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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