Rescuing Pets, Large Egos, and More
Q&A Radio: 11 September 2014
I answered questions on rescuing other people's pets, large egos, and more on 11 September 2014. 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: 11 September 2014
Question 1: Rescuing Other People's Pets
Question: Should a person be prosecuted for property damage when committed in order to rescue the property owner's pet from harm or death? Recently, I heard a story about a man who smashed the window of a stranger's car in order to rescue a dog left inside. It was a very hot day, and the dog would have died or suffered brain damage if it had not been rescued. Was it moral for the man to do this? Should he be charged with criminal damages for smashing the window? Should the owner of the dog be charged with leaving the dog to die in the car?
Answer, In Brief: You should rescue a pet in serious danger of permanent injury or death, even if you must damage the owner's property in doing so. The owner should pay for that damage, not you, because he created the emergency and benefits from the rescue.
Tags: Animals, Benevolent, Ethics, Law, Property Rights, Rights, Torts
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Question 2: Large Egos
Question: Can an egoist have too big an ego? People often speak disapprovingly of "big egos." The idea seems to be that a person is not supposed to think too well of himself or be too assertive. Is this just the product of altruism, including the idea that a person should be humble? Or can a person really be too big for his britches?
Answer, In Brief: Big egos can be big in two very different ways: they can be brittle (based on second-handed fakery) or robust (based on honest self-valuing). The rational egoist should not develop a big ego: he should aim for a robust ego, backed up by the virtues, as that person will be respectful of himself and others.
Tags: Altruism, Egoism, Ethics, Honesty, Mindsets, Psychology
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Rapid Fire Questions (37:38)
- Does the principle of intervening (from the first question) apply only to living entities or does it apply to inanimate types of property?
- What do you think of the Ray Rice situation?
- Is there any value to formal debates, or are they merely publicity stunts?
- How does one reach out and be a better friend to someone who's dealing with depression, loneliness, or poor self-esteem? What boundaries should one observe?
- Would you ever consider doing an Explore The Fountainhead podcast series?
- What do Dagny and Galt mean when they say: "We never had to take any of it seriously, did we?" To what does the "it" refer?
- What is cruelty? Could cruelty ever be necessary?
- Do you think Howard Roark would have a Facebook account?
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Conclusion (1:01:06)
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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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