Religious Morality, Ideological Conflicts, Parents, and More
Webcast Q&A: 10 April 2011
I answered questions on religious morality, ideological conflicts in romance, obligations to parents, pressure to procreate, progress in Objectivism, kids and religion, and more on 10 April 2011. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was my co-host. Listen to or download this episode of Philosophy in Action Radio below.
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Segments: 10 April 2011
Question 1: Religious Morality
Question: Does morality require God? Many devoutly religious people claim that morality requires God. They say that without a supernatural lawgiver, anything would be morally permissible. Is that right? Are relativism or subjectivism the only alternatives to religious morality?
Answer, In Brief: Morality can and ought to be based on facts about man's nature and the nature of the universe. A morality dependent on God is subjective – and ultimately, just another form of relativism.
Tags: Atheism, Ethics, Relativism, Religion
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Question 2: Ideological Conflicts in Romance
Question: How should a person deal with ideological conflicts with a spouse? In particular, if a person discovers and embraces Objectivism while already in a serious relationship (perhaps marriage) with a non-Objectivist, what's the best way to deal with conflicts that arise due to divergent principles?
Answer, In Brief: Provided that the gap can be bridged, each person must be wholly honest with the other, while giving the other space to pursue his/her own values.
Tags: Compromise, Conflict, Dating, Ethics, Philosophy, Politics, Relationships, Romance
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Question 3: Obligations to Parents
Question: Is it my responsibility to look after my parents in their old age? Should I expect to support my parents financially and/or care for them as they get older? More generally, what responsibilities do adult children have towards their parents, if any?
Answer, In Brief: An adult child has no duty to sacrifice himself for his parents, but he ought to assist them in proportion to his capacity and their value to him.
Tags: Adult Children, Ethics, Family, Finances, Obligation, Parenting, Responsibility, Sacrifice, Self-Sacrifice
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Question 4: Pressure to Procreate
Question: What do you say to parents pressuring you to have kids? Lately, my parents have been urging my wife and me to have kids. They really want grandkids, I think. So they've been dropping not-so-subtle hints to that effect. Also, they say that I'll regret not having kids, that kids are just part of being an adult, that I'll adore my own kids once I have them, and so on. What should I say in reply to those kinds of hints and comments?
Answer, In Brief: As with other personal decisions, you must establish and maintain your boundaries. Don't be wishy-washy, don't engage in repeated or prolonged discussions. Treat the question – in your own mind and in any discussions about it – as your own personal decision.
Tags: Adult Children, Children, Communication, Conflict, Family, Parenting, Parents, Relationships
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Question 5: Progress in Objectivism
Question: What were Ayn Rand's shortcomings in her understanding and/or practice of Objectivism? After having listened to a number of Rationally Selfish Webcast episodes, some passing statements make it sound like Ayn Rand had a complete understanding and perfect execution of Objectivism. I'm attracted to Objectivism as a rational approach to morality and philosophy but bothered by how untouchable Ayn Rand appears to be. To compare, Isaac Newton did wonders for the world of physics, but if we hadn't evolved his theories, our world would be far less advanced. Maybe a better question would be: What progress in understanding has been made by Objectivists since Ayn Rand's death?
Answer, In Brief: Objectivism is Ayn Rand's philosophy. It's a system of fundamental principles, not everything she said or believed. It's not equivalent to all philosophy, let alone all truth. The wonderful new work done by Objectivists scholars and intellectuals in recent years should be credited to them, not wrongly claimed to be part of Objectivism.
Tags: Objectivism, Philosophy, Progress
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Question 6: Kids and Religion
Question: Should atheistic parents encourage their children to explore religion? Why or why not? And if so, how?
Answer, In Brief: Kids should learn about religion, as a cultural and historical force. Parents should not dogmatize against religion, although parents should openly explain their own views when asked.
Tags: Atheism, Children, Communication, Education, Religion
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Conclusion (1:07:05)
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About Philosophy in Action
I'm Dr. Diana Brickell. I'm a philosopher specializing in the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My book, Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame, is available for purchase in paperback and Kindle. The book defends the justice of moral praise and blame of persons using an Aristotelian theory of moral responsibility, thereby refuting Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on most Sunday mornings and some Thursday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Thursday evenings, I interview an expert guest or discuss a topic of interest.
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