Q&A Radio: Sunday, 7 April 2013
I answered questions on the validity of gay marriage, the is-ought gap, the aftermath of a friendship, mixing politics and romance, and more on Philosophy in Action Radio on Sunday, 7 April 2013. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was my co-host. You can listen to or download the podcast below.
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Segments: 7 April 2013
Question 1: The Validity of Gay Marriage (2:34)
Question: Is "gay marriage" a valid form of marriage? Many people oppose gay marriage on the grounds that marriage is essentially religious, that procreation is central to marriage, or "traditional marriage" should be respected. Should gay unions be considered a valid form of marriage, legally or socially? Might civil unions be an acceptable alternative?
Answer, In Brief: The various quasi-secular arguments against gay marriage fail, badly. Gay marriage is a matter of rights, and people ought to support it.
Tags: Christianity, Culture, GLBT, Law, Marriage, Politics, Religion, Romance
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Question 2: The Is-Ought Gap (24:01)
Question: What is the solution to the is-ought problem? David Hume famously claimed that statements about what ought to be cannot be derived from statements about what is the case. Does that mean that ethics is impossible? Can the gap be bridged, and if so, how?
Answer, In Brief: The is-ought problem was solved by Ayn Rand's identification of life as a person's ultimate goal: the facts have normative implications when combined with goals.
Tags: David Hume, Ethics, Meta-Ethics, Objectivism
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Question 3: The Aftermath of a Friendship (34:45)
Question: What's the proper response to the dissolution of a friendship within a social group? I loved your your May 6th, 2012 discussion of "unforgivable acts," and I have a follow-up question. Now – after cutting my losses with a best friend, after years of giving second chances, talking with him repeatedly, and determining that there's no more basis for a friendship – how do I judge mutual friends of ours? Some of them think that my actions weren't justified. Some resent me for breaking up a group of friends. Many want me to either make up with this person or tolerate him at gatherings. Is this reaction by these mutual friends fair? How should I respond to them?
Answer, In Brief: Often, such problems have no easy solution, but you'll be better off if you explain as much as you can of the facts and your feelings, set reasonable limits as to interaction with this former friend, and work to keep up the friendships.
Tags: Communication, Friendship, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Relationships
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Question 4: Mixing Politics and Romance (43:39)
Question: Can people with divergent political views enjoy a good romantic relationship? Some of my liberal friends won't date conservatives, and some of my conservative friends are horrified at the thought of dating a liberal. Is that reasonable? Since I'm in favor of free markets, should I only date other advocates of free markets? Can people with very different political views enjoy a good romantic relationship?
Answer, In Brief: A person's politics does not constitute the fundamental values important for a good romance, but often conversations about politics can reveal those values.
Tags: Epistemology, Philosophy, Politics, Relationships, Romance, Values
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Rapid Fire Questions (49:43)
- Who's your favorite psychopath?
- Why do people still want to be moral when their morality is not in their own interest? Doesn't morality for its own sake turn the concept itself into a hyped up cardboard badge?
- Is there a philosophical difference between losing and regaining consciousnesses and being taken apart and reconstructed by some scifi teleporter if one existed?
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Conclusion (1:00:40)
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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 doing that, but each episode requires our time, effort, and money. 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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I can be reached via e-mail to [email protected].
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