Default Ideas, Unjust Gripes, Veganism, and More
Radio Q&A: 18 November 2012
I answered questions on adopting ideas by default, griping versus moral judgment, veganism as child abuse, sharing lecture notes, and more on 18 November 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: 18 November 2012
Question 1: Adopting Ideas by Default
Question: Should a person allow his ideology to set his default positions? When people adopt a religion, philosophy, or politics as their own, they often don't think through every issue - or they've not done so yet. Does accepting the various positions of that ideology as a kind of default amount to accepting them on faith? What should a person do when he hasn't thought through the issue for himself?
Answer, In Brief: A person should not swallow any ideology whole. He should judge for himself on matters of importance, and he needs to differentiate what he knows first-hand from merely provisional and plausible claims.
Tags: Conservatism, Epistemology, Ethics, Honesty, Independence, Paleo, Philosophy, Psycho-Epistemology, Rationalism, Rationality
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Question 2: Griping Versus Moral Judgment
Question: What's the difference between griping about people and morally judging them? I try to be careful in my moral judgments of others, and then act accordingly. However, most people don't seem to do that: they bitch about other people out of annoyance, but then do nothing to solve their problems. What's wrong with such bitching? How can I explain my objections to such bitching in a friendly way? How can I avoid being bitched-to or bitched-about?
Answer, In Brief: For a person to merely gripe about serious moral failings in others but then maintain the relationship as before is wrong. Yet it's far worse to bandy about serious but unwarranted moral accusations out of momentary annoyance or spite.
Tags: Communication, Communication, Conflict, Ethics, Judgment, Justice, Relationships, Relationships
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Question 3: Veganism as Child Abuse
Question: Should it be considered child abuse to feed a child a vegan diet? Most experts agree that children need some of the nutrients found in meat and dairy products to develop properly. I've read lots of stories about children whose development is impaired or stunted due to being fed a vegan diet. Should it be considered child abuse to feed a child a strict vegan diet? If so, at which point should the state intervene and take legal recourse against the parents?
Answer, In Brief: Child abuse requires that parents inflict serious and lasting harm on the child that impairs its capacity to develop into healthy, independent, autonomous adult. A vegan diet might do that – in which case the state should intervene. Or it might be perfectly fine – in which case the state should leave the parents and child alone.
Tags: Child Abuse, Children, Free Society, Health, Law, Nutrition, Parenting, Rights
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Question 4: Sharing Lecture Notes
Question: Is it wrong to refuse to share lecture notes with a lazy student? A classmate of mine is nice enough but a bit odd. She's always at least 30 minutes late for lecture, and she doesn't come to lab sometimes. In lecture, she does not take notes but instead usually draws the whole class period. Today, she asked to borrow some of my lecture notes. I told her that I noticed that she was always late and that she didn't take notes, and she denied that. Still, I told her that lending her my notes would be inconvenient, then I suggested that she ask someone else. Normally, I'd be happy to share my notes, but in this case, I didn't want to share the results of my efforts in attending this class on time, every day, and paying attention. Was that wrong?
Answer, In Brief: To offer notes to a fellow student is often generous and proper, if it's not too much trouble. However, in this case, the student was not merely lazy but also dishonest, so sharing your notes would have been wrong.
Tags: Communication, Culture, Education, Ethics, Free Society, Generosity, Honesty, Moral Wrongs, Responsibility
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Rapid Fire Questions (1:00:59)
- I have Bipolar Disorder. When is a good time in a new romantic relationship to inform the other person of that?
- What lesson did the Republicans learn from Romney's defeat?
- Should a sensitive person learn to take criticism well? Why and how?
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Conclusion (1:11:28)
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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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