Spanking, Parenting, Cheating, and More
Radio Q&A: 24 June 2012
I answered questions on corporal punishment of kids, parenting as a central purpose, compartmentalized cheating, something greater than yourself, and more on 24 June 2012. 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: 24 June 2012
Question 1: Corporal Punishment of Kids
Question: Is corporal punishment of children ever proper? The 2011 video of Judge William Adams beating his daughter raises the question of whether it's ever necessary or proper to physically discipline children. Does the age of the child matter, particularly given that you can't reason with younger children? Does the amount of force used matter? When does physical punishment violate the child's rights?
Answer, In Brief: To force obedience on your weak and dependent children by violence is immoral and impractical.
Tags: Adult Children, Children, Corporal Punishment, Ethics, Honesty, Independence, Parenting, Punishment, Rights, Violence
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Question 2: Parenting as a Central Purpose
Question: Can parenting be a central purpose in life? Many people think that only a career can serve as a person's central purpose. They think that a central purpose must be remunerative, and that it can't be merely temporary. Is that right? Can parenting be a person's central purpose, even if only for a few years?
Answer, In Brief: The notion of "central purpose" seems to be misused by many Objectivists: it refers to a person's productive work, not a specific theme thereof. Parenting is a productive activity, and it can be a person's primary productive activity.
Tags: Career, Central Purpose, Children, Family, Objectivism, Parenting, Purpose
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Question 3: Compartmentalized Cheating
Question: Is it true that, "if you cheat on your wife, you'll cheat on your business partner"? A few months ago, a Republican presidential candidate said of Newt Gingrich, "if you cheat on your wife, you'll cheat on your business partner." Leaving aside the specifics of any particular politician's personal life, is the broader principle accurate? If you knew that someone cheated on his wife, does that mean he should be regarded as an untrustworthy for a business partnership? Or as morally unfit to be your doctor? Or as unfit to be an elected official?
Answer, In Brief: Depending on the person's motive for the affair, the cheating might be compartmentalized or infect other areas of his life.
Tags: Business, Character, Compartmentalization, Ethics, Honesty, Marriage
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Question 4: Something Greater than Yourself
Question: Doesn't everyone need to be a part of something greater than themselves? Most people want to be involved with some cause greater than themselves – whether God, their community, the state, the environment. Doesn't everyone need that to help steer them in life? Or do you think that's unnecessary or even wrong?
Answer, In Brief: A person doesn't need a cause greater than himself: he needs to value his own life, find inspiration in the great deeds of others, and accomplish great things himself.
Tags: Central Purpose, Ethics, Life, Purpose
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Rapid Fire Questions (54:17)
- Should the exclusionary rule be abolished?
- Are companies morally responsible for the working conditions of their suppliers?
- Is a sex offender registry just and proper?
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Conclusion (1:05:34)
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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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