Q&A Webcast Episode: 31 October 2010
In this 31 October 2010 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered six questions on kindness to others, career versus family, terminal cancer and disability, chronic complainers, irresponsible adult children, maintaining civility online, and more in an hour-long broadcast.
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My News of the Week: Right now, these webcasts are very experimental, and this episode was my first in this format. Hence, it has lots of rough edges. Please lower your expectations accordingly!
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- Duration: 52:36
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Segments: 31 October 2010
Question 1: Kindness to Others (4:35)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on kindness to others.
Is there a principle of Objectivism which justifies and requires kindness to other people (not necessarily going out of one's way, but treating others 'like human beings' and a basic level of respect), or is it just an issue of reciprocity?
Tags: Benevolence, Egoism, Ethics
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Question 2: Career Versus Family (15:53)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on career versus family.
I am a 20-something girl with ambitious career goals and a strong desire to have a family. How did you decide to pursue a career rather than having children? Do you have any advice about how to go about making the decision?
Tags: Career, Children, Family, Parenting, Work
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Question 3: Terminal Cancer and Disability (23:50)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on terminal cancer and disability.
I have a terminal illness (cancer) that's getting in the way of my daily life, which includes a full-time job and college. Is it moral to stop working and go on disability?
Tags: Ethics, Government, Health, Welfare, Work
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Question 4: Chronic Complainers (35:37)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on chronic complainers.
What are your thoughts on people who complain about their problems but never pursue to solve them, or, worse, actively evade and ignore solutions that confront them? E.g. a student who complains about his budget but continues to spend irrationally.
Tags: Communication, Ethics, Judgment, Justice, Moral Wrongs
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Question 5: Irresponsible Adult Children (45:21)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on irresponsible adult children.
How would you treat an adult child who wishes to move back home after a history of poor self-control and irresponsible choices?
Tags: Adult Children, Ethics, Family, Judgment, Justice, Parenting, Responsibility
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Question 6: Maintaining Civility Online (46:53)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on maintaining civility online.
Could you give or recommend a set of guidelines for blog/online discussion etiquette? How can someone maximize their benefit from online discussions and relationships?
Tags: Ethics, Etiquette, Internet, Relationships
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Conclusion (51:58)
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About Philosophy in Action Q&A Webcast
Every Sunday morning, philosopher Dr. Diana Hsieh answers four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in her live hour-long internet radio show, Philosophy in Action Advice Radio. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. The audience can ask follow-up questions and make comments in the text-based chat.
You can listen to Philosophy in Action broadcasts as podcasts by subscribing to the Philosophy in Action's Podcast RSS Feeds. Be sure to sign up for the Newsletter and connect on social media.
You can also peruse the show archives, listening to whole episodes or just selected segments. The show archives are sorted by date and by topic.
For regular updates, commentary, and humor from Dr. Diana Hsieh, visit her blog NoodleFood, and subscribe to its rss feed.
Dr. Diana Hsieh is a philosopher specializing in practical ethics. She received her Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. Her dissertation argued that Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck" can be resolved by an Aristotelian theory of moral responsibility. She began podcasting in 2009, then webcasting in 2010.
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