In Sunday morning’s episode of Philosophy in Action Q&A Radio, I’ll answer questions on the nature of mysticism, breast implants, choosing to live in a socialist country, cleaning the house for guests, and more with Greg Perkins.

• Who: Dr. Diana Hsieh and Greg Perkins
• What: Philosophy in Action Q&A Radio: Mysticism, Breast Implants, Socialism, and More
• When: Sunday, 4 November 2012, 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ET
• Where: Philosophy in Action’s Live Studio

This week’s questions are:

• Question 1: The Nature of Mysticism: What is mysticism? Is mysticism distinct from religion, faith, and belief in the supernatural? Can a person be non-religious but mystical?
• Question 2: Breast Implants: What advice should I give to a friend considering breast implants? A friend of mine is considering breast implants, purely for cosmetic reasons. In other words, she’s not having reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy: she just wants larger breasts. Do you think that purely cosmetic breast implant surgery is moral? Is it wise? What advice should I give her, if any?
• Question 3: Choosing to Live in a Socialist Country: Is it moral to choose to live in a socialist country? A person might move to England to study at a conservatory or move to China for a job. Would it be moral to do that – meaning, to move to a socialist country and make use their government institutions? Would there be some kind of obligation to “pay back” what the person gains from that country’s taxpayers, such as by giving philanthropy to organizations that promote capitalism in that country? Or would it be immoral altogether, such that a person should pursue whatever opportunities he can in America (or where he is)?
• Question 4: Cleaning the House for Guests: Is is second-handed to work hard to clean and repair your house before company arrives? I’m constantly fighting a battle to get my house looking reasonable. Then, right before company arrives from out-of-town, I make an extra big push to get it as clean and tidy as possible. I’d like it to always be that way, but I’ll work a lot harder when I know that someone else will be in the space. So is it second-handed to want to present a better home then I normally maintain? Or is putting in that effort that a matter of respecting and providing for people that I value?

After that, we’ll tackle some impromptu “Rapid Fire Questions.”

To join the live broadcast and its chat, just point your browser to Philosophy in Action’s Live Studio a few minutes before the show is scheduled to start. If you attend the live show, you can share your thoughts with other listeners and ask me follow-up questions in the text chat.

If you miss the live broadcast, you’ll find the audio from the episode posted here: Q&A Radio: 4 November 2012.

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. For information on upcoming shows and more, visit the Episodes on Tap.

I hope that you join us on Sunday morning!