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Podcast #46: Polyamory, Procrastination, In-Laws, Theism, and More

 Posted by on 9 December 2010 at 10:00 am  Podcasts
Dec 092010
 

On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on polyamory versus monogamy, values after death, the problem of procrastination, in-laws as ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, Objectivism versus theism, sanctioning the TSA, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 5 December 2010

Listen or Download:

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Podcast Segments: 5 December 2010

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

Introduction

My News of the Week: Let’s get started!

Question 1: Polyamory Versus Monogamy

Question: What’s wrong with multiple sexual partners at a time? Why do you think that multiple romantic partners are psychologically destructive for everyone involved? What is it about romantic love that you think demands attention on one and only one other person?

My Answer, In Brief: Sex is an inherently intimate act, and it’s not possible to be in meaningful sexual relationship with two people without doing harm to oneself in some way or other.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 2: Values After Death

Question: Should I care what happens to the world after I die? Should I care about my friends and projects after I die? What about caring about humanity long after my death? Should that affect my actions today?

My Answer, In Brief: Values must be experienced as thoroughly long-range, even extending beyond one’s life, but they are for the living!

Listen or Download:

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

Question 3: The Problem of Procrastination

Question: How can I procrastinate less? Often, I avoid doing unpleasant tasks for days or weeks, and I feel terrible about those delays. How can I motivate myself to just get those dreaded chores out of the way?

My Answer, In Brief: Procrastination is often due to subconscious conflict. Introspect to unearth and resolve that conflict, so that you can get the dreaded task done.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 4: In-Laws as “Mom” and “Dad”

Question: Should people call their parents-in-law “Mom” and “Dad”? My brother in law started calling my parents “mom” and “dad” – and in turn my sister now calls his parents “mom” and “dad”. This seriously offends me. My parents earned the title of mom and dad. They RAISED us – they cared for us, educated us, taught us values, loved us, and corrected us when we were wrong. My relationship with my parents is one of the most important relationships of my life and one I don’t take lightly. I would never think to call anyone else “mom” and “dad” because no one else has even remotely earned it. It would only cheapen the relationship for me. I think my brother in law is being too familiar with my parents, and disrespectful to his own (and vice versa for my sister). Are my feelings valid? And what can I do about them if they are not?

My Answer, In Brief: What other people call each other is not your concern. Focus on what matters to you: your relationship with these people.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 5: Objectivism Versus Theism

Question: Can an Objectivist believe in God? Can a person be a theist and an Objectivist? Or is that too fundamental a conflict? If so, why?

My Answer, In Brief: Philosophies must be judged by essentials, and on that basis, Christianity nothing less than wholly opposed to Objectivism.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 6: Sanctioning the TSA

Question: Given the TSA’s policies, is choosing to fly giving the sanction of the victim?

My Answer, In Brief: To sanction something is to endorse it, and to unwillingly comply with force is not to sanction it.

Listen or Download:

To comment on this question or my answer, 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: 59:21


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.

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