On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on the effects of immortality on ethics, the morality of hiring illegal immigrants, the reasons for carrying a concealed weapon, explaining egoism to others, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 24 July 2011

Listen or Download:

• Duration: 1:05:40
• Download: Enhanced M4A File (23.8 MB)
• Download: Standard MP3 File (22.6 MB)

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Podcast Segments: 24 July 2011

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

Introduction

My News of the Week: I’ve been working on programming for this webcast, as well as my updates to Explore Atlas Shrugged.

Question 1: The Effects of Immortality on Ethics

Question: If science can someday secure immortality, would that affect a person’s values and morals? Imagine that scientists discover how to keep our bodies forever young, that all diseases were prevented or cured by nanotechnology, and that we could withstand massive amounts of physical force, virtually all extremes of temperature, and all forms of radiation due to robotic and genetic enhancements. Imagine, in short, that a person could only die by being sucked into a black hole, but that would never happen because we know where all of them are and could easily avoid them. Would this change anything fundamental about human life, particularly about ethics? Given that the Objectivist ethics is founded on the conditionality of life, would and should virtually immortal people still pursue their happiness and other values? Would ethics have to be redefined or put on a new foundation?

My Answer, In Brief: Be realistic in thinking about ethics! Even if scientists conquer aging and other common causes of death, life will still require the dogged pursuit of rationally selfish values – and the result of failure is death.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 2:49
• Duration: 11:25
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Ethics, Life Extension, Values

Links:

• No One Lives Forever by Ari Armstrong
• Leonard Peikoff on the prospect of human immortality

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

Question 2: The Morality of Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Question: Is it immoral to hire illegal immigrants? While laws restricting immigration seem terribly irrational – both in terms of intent and effects – they are still technically the law. Illegal immigrants often make themselves available for day-to-day work, and hiring them for a day has an almost zero chance of legal punishment for myself for having hired them. Is it moral to disobey an irrational law if I’m unlikely to be punished for it?

My Answer, In Brief: Laws restricting immigration are destructive, irrational, and unworthy of respect. Illegal immigrants and their employers are victims of unjust laws, not criminals.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 14:14
• Duration: 9:14
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Business, Ethics, Immigration, Law, Politics

Links:

• Mother of Exiles
• The Red Card Solution

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

Question 3: The Reasons for Carrying a Concealed Weapon

Question: Why would an ordinary person wish to carry a gun? In your July 3rd webcast, you mentioned that you have a concealed carry permit. Why? Even if a person should be allowed to carry a firearm, shouldn’t we rely on the experts – namely the police – to protect us from criminals?

My Answer, In Brief: To carry a concealed firearm is not just practical, but moral too. Every person ought take responsibility for his own life, including defending it when threatened by a criminal.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 23:29
• Duration: 11:05
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Ethics, Firearms, Law, Politics, Self-Defense

Links:

• A Nation of Cowards by Jeff Snyder
• Ethics from the Barrel of a Gun by Eric Raymond

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

Question 4: Explaining Egoism to Others

Question: Why should I be an egoist? How do you explain that in layman’s terms to someone in your life?

My Answer, In Brief: When explaining to someone why you’re an egoist – or what that means – draw on your own personal experience to make your answers clear and meaningful.

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 34:35
• Duration: 13:08
• Download: MP3 Segment
• Tags: Communication, Egoism, Ethics, Self-Interest

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

Rapid Fire Questions

Questions:

• What’s your preferred firearm – and is that what you carry?
• What do you think of the new atheists like Richard Dawkins?
• How do you respond when people say that they’re going to pray for you?
• How do you respond when people ask you to pray for them?
• What do you do when you’re eating dinner with people who pray before eating?
• Shouldn’t an egoist want other people to be altruists?

Listen or Download:

• Start Time: 47:43
• Duration: 16:42
• 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: 1:04:25

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.