On Thursday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, I answered questions on egoism and harm to others, the presence of juries at trials, philosophy in romance, and more with Greg Perkins. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading. You’ll find it on the episode’s archive page, as well as below.
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Podcast: Egoism, Juries, Philosophy in Romance, and More
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 1:19:31
- Download: Enhanced M4A File (28.5 MB)
- Download: Standard MP3 File (27.3 MB)
Remember, with every episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, we show how rational philosophy can help you find joy in your work, model virtue for your kids, pursue your goals effectively, communicate with respect, and advocate for a free society. We can’t do that without your support, so please remember to tip your philosopher!
You can download or listen to my answers to individual questions from this episode below.
Introduction (0:00)
My News of the Week: I finalized the text for Explore Atlas Shrugged. The updated and revised questions, podcasts, and other resources, are available for purchase for $20. Alas, I’m not the owner of a new horse, as I’d hoped to be today.
Question 1: Egoism and Harm to Others (3:22)
In this segment, I answered a question on egoism and harm to others.
Should an egoist be willing to torture millions to benefit himself? In your discussion of explaining egoistic benevolence on December 22, 2013, you indicated that you regarded such a scenario as absurd. Could you explain why that is? Why wouldn’t such torture be not merely permitted but rather obligatory under an egoistic ethics? Why should an egoist even care about what happens to strangers?
My Answer, In Brief: To benefit himself most, the egoist must value other people, trading with them to mutual benefit. Harming other people doesn’t produce any genuine or lasting benefits but risks destroying everything of value in life.
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 36:21
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Altruism, Benevolence, Egoism, Ethics, Justice, Meta-Ethics, Predation, Prudent Predator, Relationships, Rights, Sacrifice, Self-Sacrifice, Strangers, Trader Principle
Links:
- Ghate on Rand and Smith
- “The Objectivist Ethics” and “The Ethics of Emergencies” by Ayn Rand in The Virtue of Selfishness
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 2: The Presence of Juries at Trials (39:44)
In this segment, I answered a question on the presence of juries at trials.
Should juries be present at trials? In fictional portrayals of trials, the jury is often told to disregard certain statements. Also, interruptions in the form of objections are common. Wouldn’t it be easier for the jury to be absent from the trial itself, then presented with all and only the admissible evidence and testimony afterward? In fact, the jury need not see the parties in question, nor even know their names. Wouldn’t that eliminate the possibility of racial discrimination and other irrelevant judgments?
My Answer, In Brief: In most cases, the tone, demeanor, and body language of a witness are very important for a jury to witness first-hand. That’s not merely critical for judging the honesty of the witness, but also for understanding the meaning of the testimony.
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 12:10
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Communication, Contracts, Crime, Epistemology, Honesty, Juries, Law, Torts
Links:
- Philosophy in Action: William E. Perry on What It’s Really Like to Be a Prosecutor
- Las Vegas judge grants sanctions request for lawyers’ disrespectful behavior
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 3: Philosophy in Romance (51:54)
In this segment, I answered a question on philosophy in romance.
Is sharing an interest in philosophy necessary for a good romance? I am extremely interested in philosophy. I’m studying it and planning to make it my career. My girlfriend is not. She wants nothing to do with philosophy, although she is perfectly happy with me doing it. However, I find that I am missing that intellectual engagement with her. I’ve asked a number of times if she would try to talk to me about any sort of philosophical issue – really just anything deeper than day to day happenings – and she just can’t do it. She becomes uninterested or even begins to get overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of tears. Is it necessary for us to engage in this activity together to be happy? Is there any way that I can help her to engage in rational inquiry without it being forced on her, if at all?
My Answer, In Brief: The conflict in this relationship might be that the girlfriend has no interest in even very practical philosophy or that the boyfriend is forcing unwelcome conversations about academic philosophy on her – or somewhere in between. Either case would be a serious problem, but the relationship might be worth saving – or not.
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 16:20
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Academics, Philosophy, Romance, Values
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Rapid Fire Questions (1:08:15)
In this segment, I answered questions impromptu. The questions were:
- Do you have an opinion on the recent armed standoff between the Bureau of Land Management and Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy?
- Should the CDC exist? How should sudden outbreaks of a new and infectious disease be controlled?
- After reading Nietzsche, and then looking at the evidence all around me, I’m starting to think that democracy was a bad idea. What do you say to this?
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 9:29
- Download: MP3 Segment
To comment on these questions or my answers, visit its comment thread.
Conclusion (1:17:45)
Be sure to check out the topics scheduled for upcoming episodes! Don’t forget to submit and vote on questions for future episodes too!
About Philosophy in Action Radio
Philosophy in Action Radio applies rational principles to the challenges of real life in live internet radio shows on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.
Remember, with every episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, we show how rational philosophy can help you find joy in your work, model virtue for your kids, pursue your goals effectively, communicate with respect, and advocate for a free society. We can’t do that without your support, so please remember to tip your philosopher!
