On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on one thought too many in egoism, drunk driving in a free society, dogs versus private property, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 22 June 2014

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:07:34
• Download: Enhanced M4A File (24.3 MB)
• Download: Standard MP3 File (23.2 MB)

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Podcast Segments: 22 June 2014

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

Introduction

My News of the Week: I visited my parents in the Black Hills of South Dakota earlier this week, and now I’m back to work!

Question 1: One Thought Too Many in Egoism

Question: Does egoism suffer from “one thought too many”? Bernard Williams argues that utilitarianism suffers from a problem of inappropriate motivation in which a person has “one thought too many” before acting morally. So, for example, a good utilitarian must calculate whether the general welfare is served by saving a drowning child before jumping into the water. A truly good person, in contrast, simply jumps into the water to save the child without that calculation. Wouldn’t this same objection apply to even rational, benevolent egoism? Or are those extra thoughts between situation and action actually rational?

My Answer, In Brief: Egoism might seem to suffer from the “one thought too many” problem, but that problem disappears when we realize that the egoist can and should genuinely and deeply care about other people in his life.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 2:32
• Duration: 20:53
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Benevolence, Duty Ethics, Egoism, Emotions, Ethics, Friendship, Impartialism, Meta-Ethics, Psycho-Epistemology, Psychology, Utilitarianism

Links:

• Persons, Character, and Morality by Bernard Williams

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

Question 2: Drunk Driving in a Free Society

Question: Should driving drunk be illegal in a free society? Should the government of a free society forbid and punish people for activities potentially harmful to others when they’ve impaired their judgment via drugs or alcohol? Basically, should driving or shooting a firearm while drunk be illegal? Or should such decisions be left entirely to the discretion of private property owners? Also, given that the government owns the roads today, are laws against drunk driving unjust?

My Answer, In Brief: In a free society, drunk driving would be considered civil and criminal negligence – and drunk driving derbys would not be legally possible on ordinary roads.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 23:26
• Duration: 17:15
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Alcohol/Drugs, Crime, Ethics, Free Society, Government, Law, Negligence, Rights, Risk, Torts

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

Question 3: Dogs Versus Private Property

Question: Do dog owners violate rights by allowing their dogs to poop on others’ lawns? I live in a residential urban area along with many dog owners. On a daily basis, I observe those dog owners allowing their dogs to defecate on other peoples’ lawns. I view this action as a trespass and violation of property rights, whether or not they pick up afterward. (For those who believe that picking up after your dog mitigates the trespass, would you let your child play on that spot afterward?) I don’t believe that property owners should have to create fences, hedges, or other structures to prevent this trespass. On several occasions, I have asked owners not to let their dogs poop on the front lawn of our apartment. I have received various responses from polite acquiescence to incredulousness. Many dog owners seem to feel a sense of entitlement about using others’ property without permission. Isn’t that wrong? Would you agree that it is the sole responsibility of the animal owners to care for their pets without violating the rights of the people around them? What, if any, recourse would property owners have in a free society against blatant repeat offenders of this principle?

My Answer, In Brief: Property rights must be understood within a context of social conventions. If a property owner wishes for something other than the default, then they must take steps to make that clear to others. Here, a “curb your dog” sign is all that is necessary, but such is the province of the owner of your apartment complex.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 40:41
• Duration: 18:15
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Animals, Communication, Culture, Ethics, Law, Pets, Property Rights, Rights

Links:

• Defenses against Trespass

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

Rapid Fire Questions

Questions:

• Do you believe in American exceptionalism?
• What is dignity? Is it second-handed to care about dignity?
• What’s wrong with caveat emptor?

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 58:57
• Duration: 6:46
• 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: 1:05:43

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.