On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Arthur Zey and I answered questions on philosophical underpinnings of fixed versus growth mindsets, John Galt’s motor, acting rightly, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.
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Whole Podcast: 24 May 2015
Listen or Download:
- Duration: 1:02:43
- Download: Enhanced M4A File (22.5 MB)
- Download: Standard MP3 File (21.6 MB)
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Podcast Segments: 24 May 2015
You can download or listen to my answers to individual questions from this episode below.
Introduction
My News of the Week: We’re live from ATLOSCon!
Question 1: Philosophical Underpinnings of Fixed Versus Growth Mindsets
Question: What are the philosophical underpinnings of growth versus fixed mindsets? At SnowCon, we discussed the negative impact of the doctrine of Original Sin on Western culture over breakfast one morning. We saw that this idea – which tells people that they are hopelessly flawed by nature – could encourage fixed mindsets. In contrast, an Aristotelian understanding of virtue and vice as dispositions cultivated by repeated action would seem to promote a growth mindset. What other philosophic ideas might tend to promote a fixed versus a growth mindset?
My Answer, In Brief: Fixed mindsets can be promoted by bad philosophical ideas such as determinism, intrinsicism, putting wishes over facts, not respecting cause and effect, viewing life as stasis, and fearing the unknown. If you want a growth mindset (and you should!) reject these ideas in all areas of your life for true ones.
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 2:13
- Duration: 22:25
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Causality, Epistemology, Ethics, Metaphysics, Mindsets, Philosophy, Primacy of Existence, Values
Links:
- Philosophy in Action: Kelly Elmore on Why Growth Mindsets Matter
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 2: John Galt’s Motor
Question: Was John Galt evil, wrong, or a jerk for not commercializing his motor? In Atlas Shrugged, John Galt went on strike when the world seemed only a little worse off than today politically in America. Things got really bad so fast because Galt dismantled everything. If, instead of going on strike, he had quit the Twentieth Century Motor Company and started the Galt Motor Company, things seem like they would have gone a very different way. By my reading, Galt’s motor was pretty much a free energy miracle – for the same price as a car engine a car could need no fuel and be nearly maintenance free. Electricity would be too cheap to meter and probably within a decade the Galt Motor Company would provide the engines for every plane, train, automobile, and power plant in America. The resulting economic boom from ultra-cheap energy would have probably improved conditions – there’d be fewer calls for controls because everything would be going so swimmingly. Galt could have gone into the other countries and demanded they liberalize their economies if they wanted him to electrify their countries. His wealth and influence would let him meet with titans of industry and convince them of his morality. He could invest in Hollywood and make movies and TV shows that showed his views. He could have met Dagny and fallen in love with her, and I’m sure over months of dating she would have come around to realize that his morality was right. Her resistance was, after all, to the strike, not really the idea that we should be selfish. People seem to get more panicky and politicians more lusting after power when the economy is doing poorly. In huge booms things seem to get better. People who are well off don’t cry out for a savior and accept whatever anyone tells them will make things better, because things are going pretty well. If Galt probably could have gotten rich, liberalized the economies of the world, married Dagny, and sparked a moral revolution all without dismantling civilization, shouldn’t he have? If his motor really could save everyone (and it seems like it could have), he is at least kind of a jerk to not commercialize it – and probably self-destructive too. So why go on strike at all?
My Answer, In Brief: John Galt was not evil, wrong, or a jerk for refusing to commercialize his motor. That’s because (1) people care about more than just wealth and prosperity, and that’s part of point of Atlas Shrugged, (2) JG doesn’t have a duty to others to save them, and that’s also part of point of Atlas Shrugged. Moreover, (3) while Atlas Shrugged is a great novel, it is not a good blueprint for cultural reform.
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 24:39
- Duration: 26:02
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Activism, Altruism, Atlas Shrugged, Business, Death Premise, Duty Ethics, Economics, Ethics, Ethics, Law, Literature, Objectivism, Philosophy, Politics, Responsibility
Links:
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- Joshua Job’s Thread on Facebook
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 3: Acting Rightly
Question: How can I learn to act on principles that I know to be true? I believe in reality, rationality, individualism, self-interest, and self-esteem. Yet I don’t act on these beliefs. Right now, I don’t have any self-esteem. Once I act upon believing in reality, instead of merely believing in it, I will develop self-esteem. But I’m really lost as to how to apply reality in my life. I don’t know what that would mean. How can I act on my beliefs?
My Answer, In Brief: You need to develop the knowledge and skills to put your ideas into practice. To do that, focus on developing the mental habits of rational egoism.
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 50:42
- Duration: 6:57
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Tags: Egoism, Epistemology, Ethics, Integrity, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Rationality, Values
Links:
- Loving Life by Craig Biddle
- Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics by Tara Smith
- Objectivism Through Induction by Leonard Peikoff
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Rapid Fire Questions
Questions:
- I am, reluctantly, but strongly considering voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Can you think of a better alternative?
Listen or Download:
- Start Time: 57:40
- Duration: 3:34
- 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: 1:01:14
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.
