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Podcast #60: Criticism, Evolutionary Psychology, Taxes, and More

 Posted by on 23 February 2011 at 4:40 pm  Podcasts
Feb 232011
 

On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on helpful criticism of others, evolutionary psychology, cheating on work questionnaires, cheating on taxes, government secrets, bribing government officials, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 20 February 2011

Listen or Download:

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Podcast Segments: 20 February 2011

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: Helpful Criticism of Others

Question: How can I criticize someone’s work without hurting their feelings? In student theater circles, I struggle to be honest when asked what I thought of an actor’s performance, or a director’s job, or the writer’s work. The writing can be very bad and the performances pretty flat too. My first instinct is to latch onto anything positive I can in the play, and to just talk about that. However, then I seem to be someone afraid to offer criticism to someone’s face, and I’d hate to criticize behind their back. So how can I be critical in a helpful and friendly way?

My Answer, In Brief: Constructive criticism is a skill that can be developed and practiced. Toastmasters is a great way to do that.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 2: Evolutionary Psychology

Question: What is your opinion of evolutionary psychology? For example, a recent study claims that there is a gene for being a political liberal. Or another claim is that studies show that women are “hypergamous” in that they are “wired” to seek out the most “socially dominant” men that they can find in the “sexual market”. What is your opinion on all this?

My Answer, In Brief: Evolutionary Psychology seeks to explain human psychology and behavior as the product of evolutionary adaptation. It’s just the latest fad in determinism, and often depends on very sloppy science.

Listen or Download:

Links:

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

Question 3: Cheating on Work Questionnaires

Question: Is it wrong to cheat on a work-style questionnaire on a job application? I’ve been denied certain jobs because I’ve answered too selfishly on job questionnaires that gauge a person’s work style. The questions often ask what you would do in certain situations, if you prefer working alone or with others, etc. Is it wrong to answer falsely on those tests for a job you want and know you can do well?

My Answer, In Brief: Pretending to be something other than you are to prospective employers – whether in skills, experience, or personality – is neither moral nor practical. However, you can speak up when you think that you’ve been unfairly judged by such tests.

Listen or Download:

Links:

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

Question 4: Cheating on Taxes

Question: Is it immoral to cheat on your taxes? It’s essentially a lie to protect the products of your labor. So is it wrong just because it’s illegal?

My Answer, In Brief: While it’s perfectly moral to evade taxes in today’s system of massive governmental theft, the penalties are so harsh that it’s surely unwise to do so.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 5: Government Secrets

Question: Should private citizens be legally obliged to keep government secrets? Should it be a crime for private citizens to divulge “top secret” information? That is, if I have no specific security agreement or contract with the government to keep information confidential if I come to possess it through no fault of my own? What if lives are at stake?

My Answer, In Brief: Every person should care deeply about his government’s capacity to effectively protect rights, including against foreign aggressors. Hence, the choice to publish government secrets should focus on whether doing so will help protect rights or undermine them.

Listen or Download:

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

Question 6: Bribing Government Officials

Question: Is it immoral to bribe a government official? There are many approvals and licenses that are required to be taken by individual and/or companies for doing anything. But they are not granted unless you bribe the concerned government official. (They are not ashamed of asking you directly.) In that case, is it immoral on your part to bribe them as you have no way out?

My Answer, In Brief: When faced with the double injustice of government licensing, then a demand for a bribe, it’s perfectly moral to use the cheapest, easiest, and/or safest method of circumventing that rights violation.

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: 59:19


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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