On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on free will and moral responsibility, values destroyed by statism, leaving an inmate boyfriend, privacy in marriage, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 17 November 2013

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:07:07
• Download: Enhanced M4A File (24.1 MB)
• Download: Standard MP3 File (23.1 MB)

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Podcast Segments: 17 November 2013

You can download or listen to my answers to individual questions from this episode below.

Introduction

My News of the Week: I completed and posted the podcast of the reading of Chapter One of Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame.

Question 1: Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Question: What is the relationship between free will and moral responsibility? To me, the concept of free will found in debates about determinism seems different from the concept of free will relevant to questions of moral responsibility. The former is a metaphysical concept, and a person either has free will or not. The latter is a psychological concept, and it seems to be a matter of degree based on nature and nurture. However, psychological free will seems to presuppose metaphysical free will. Is that right? What is the relationship between free will and moral responsibility?

My Answer, In Brief: There is just one concept of free will, and moral responsibility is impossible without free will.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 3:38
• Duration: 15:58
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Ethics, Free Will, Moral Judgment, Moral Luck, Responsibility

Links:

• Comment on the Question
• Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame, available in paperback, Kindle, Nook editions

To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Question 2: Values Destroyed by Statism

Question: What are the most significant values destroyed by statism? In other words, what values would be available to us – or more available – in a laissez-faire, rational society that are limited or unavailable to us today? What are some of the major (and perhaps under-appreciated) values destroyed or precluded by government overreach? To put the question another way: How would a proper government improve our lives?

My Answer, In Brief: The values lost by statism are many and various, both economically and culturally. A good life is still possible in our mixed economy, but life could be so much better in a free society.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 19:37
• Duration: 20:02
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Culture, Economics, Ethics, Government, Rights

Links:

• Will Tomorrow’s Medical Innovations Be There When You Need Them? by Paul Hsieh

To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Question 3: Leaving an Inmate Boyfriend

Question: Should I leave my inmate boyfriend? I am in a dilemma. My current boyfriend is in prison serving a six year sentence. He has been away for a year and a half. It took over two years for the legal matters to be settled and for him to finally get a sentence. This is also my first ever boyfriend and I am already 26. Is it wrong for me to want to move on with my life? After he gets out (if no appeal is granted) he will be forced into a very limited lifestyle being on a sex offender list. I keep thinking about trying to make new friends and what I should and should not disclose to them. Right now, I live with his parents and work with his mother. I feel like I am cornered and am drowning in this huge mess. I want my own life, but with zero support and friends I am terrified of the risk. Do I stick it out? Or do I suck it up and leave him, my home, and my job?

My Answer, In Brief: You’re certainly not obliged to stay with your boyfriend, and based on your comments here, you should seriously consider leaving him. Mostly, however, you need to rouse the courage to establish yourself as an independent and self-sufficient person.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 39:39
• Duration: 10:24
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Ethics, Honesty, Independence, Relationships, Romance

Links:

• Philosophy in Action: Accepting Government Welfare

To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Question 4: Privacy in Marriage

Question: Are spouses entitled to privacy with each other? My wife thinks that she should have access to all my online accounts, including my email. I don’t have any secrets from her, and my email doesn’t contain anything scandalous. Still, I don’t want her prying into my conversations, and I don’t see that she has any reason to do so. I’ve never given her any reason to distrust me. Aren’t I entitled to some privacy in my marriage?

My Answer, In Brief: As a matter of trust in and respect for the spouse, a person should respect the privacy of his spouse’s emails and other communications.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 50:03
• Duration: 12:06
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Communication, Ethics, Marriage

To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Rapid Fire Questions

Questions:

• Socialists often talk of the upper classes ‘controlling’ things, like private education or health care, and deliberately excluding the lower classes–do you think this phenomenon exists to any extent?
• Is gender just a social construct?

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 1:02:10
• Duration: 3:28
• Download: MP3 Segment

To comment on these questions or my answers, visit its comment thread.

Conclusion

Be sure to check out the topics scheduled for upcoming episodes! Don’t forget to submit and vote on questions for future episodes too!

• Start Time: 1:05:38

About Philosophy in Action Radio

Philosophy in Action Radio focuses on the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. It broadcasts live on most Sunday mornings and many Thursday evenings over the internet. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.