On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on the major virtues, signs of repression, the ethics of care for the body, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.
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Whole Podcast: 12 April 2015
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 1:37:41
- Download: Enhanced M4A File (35.0 MB)
- Download: Standard MP3 File (33.5 MB)
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Podcast Segments: 12 April 2015
You can download or listen to my answers to individual questions from this episode below.
Introduction
My News of the Week: The book version of Explore Atlas Shrugged is now now available on Amazon in kindle and paperback formats. I’ve resumed my ReligionCasts series of podcasts on philosophy of religion. And I won’t be broadcasting next Sunday for personal reasons.
Question 1: The Major Virtues
Question: What’s so special about the seven virtues? Ayn Rand identified seven virtues: rationality, honesty, productiveness, independence, justice, integrity, and pride. What’s different about those qualities – as compared to other commonly touted virtues like benevolence, creativity, temperance, or courage? Basically, why are those seven the virtues in Objectivism? Is Objectivism right to single them out? Are they exhaustive?
My Answer, In Brief: Ayn Rand was not concerned that her virtues be exhaustive or symmetrical. But the major virtues of the Objectivist ethics are such because they provide crucial, fundamental guidance and they’re contextual absolutes – unlike moral amplifiers. (Productiveness is an anomaly, in part.)
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 8:23
- Duration: 34:51
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Character, Context, Ethics, Honesty, Independence, Integrity, Justice, Major Values, Moral Amplifiers, Objectivism, Pride, Productiveness, Productivity, Purposefulness, Rationalism, Rationality, Virtue
Links:
- Wikipedia: Immanuel Kant’s Categories
- “Galt’s Speech” in Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- “The Objectivist Ethics” by Ayn Rand in The Virtue of Selfishness
- Philosophy in Action: Moral Amplifiers
- Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics by Tara Smith
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 2: Signs of Repression
Question: What are the signs of emotional repression? It’s very important not to repress your emotions, especially if you are a person with rationalistic tendencies. But how might a person identify when he’s repressing some emotions? What are the signs? What can be done to avoid and overcome the tendency to repress, if such a tendency has become habitual?
My Answer, In Brief: Repression is an automatized refusal to think or feel that greatly impairs a person’s capacity to solve the problems of his life. A person can look for the signs of repression by constantly monitoring himself for signs of shutting down thoughts and feelings. He can overcome repression by allowing himself to think and feel everything, even while declining to act on random thoughts and feelings.
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 43:14
- Duration: 23:10
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Emotions, Introspection, Psychology, Rationalism, Repression, Subconscious
Links:
- The Psychology of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 3: The Ethics of Care for the Body
Question: What is the moral status of actions aimed at tending to one’s body? In an egoistic ethics, the ultimate end of moral action is the growth and continuation of one’s own life. Ayn Rand discussed many of the kinds of actions required to achieve this goal, but she didn’t discuss matters of “bodily care,” such as cleaning your teeth, eating well, exercising regularly, tending to a wound, and seeking necessary medical care. These constitute a whole universe of actions necessary for the maintenance of one’s body and, hence, one’s life. Are such actions moral and virtuous? Should bodily care itself be considered a virtue? Or are these actions already subsumed under the virtues? (If so, I would love to know how to brush my teeth with integrity and pride!)
My Answer, In Brief: A person’s bodily health matters hugely to his well-being and longevity. New virtues are not required to account for this, however, as the virtues of integrity and pride do apply in spades.
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 1:06:25
- Duration: 24:50
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Ambition, Body, Character, Diet, Fitness, Health, Integrity, Mind-Body Connection, Mindsets, Pride, Rationalism, Values, Virtue
Links:
- Ayn Rand Lexicon: Pride and Integrity
- Philosophy in Action: Kelly Elmore on Why Growth Mindsets Matter
- What it’s like to be laughed at on the Internet by Amy Salloway
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Rapid Fire Questions
Questions:
- Would it be wrong to say, “When you die, nothing happens” instead of “God bless you” when someone sneezes?
- Is it okay to copy and distribute someone’s intellectual property if that person doesn’t believe in intellectual property?
- Isn’t there a risk in a society without government welfare that the poor would commit crimes in order to go to prison and get free food, shelter etc.?
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 1:31:16
- Duration: 5:01
- 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: 1:36:18
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.
