Q&A Webcast Episode: 6 March 2011
In this 6 March 2011 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered six questions on regrets over past mistakes, the necessity of forgiveness, heavy drinking, making fun of others, ending relationships, the bother of honesty, and more in an hour-long broadcast. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was the audio co-host.
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Segments: 6 March 2011
Question 1: Regrets over Past Mistakes (5:21)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on regrets over past mistakes.
Does a rational person feel regret over past mistakes? Clearly it is most productive to focus on the positive: What can you learn from your mistakes? Etc. Does this mean regret can be eliminated? What do you make of people who say they never have any regrets?
My Answer, In Brief: Moral regrets are optional, as morality is always a matter of choice. Ordinary regrets over something that turned out badly are inevitable, and they should not be a source of guilt.
Tags: Emotions, Ethics, Judgment, Justice, Moral Wrongs
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Question 2: The Necessity of Forgiveness (18:07)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on the necessity of forgiveness.
Is forgiveness necessary? Religious connotations aside, popular psychology often tells us that we must forgive those who have hurt us, even if they are no longer in our lives. It's "healthy". Is forgiveness really necessary to emotional healing? Should I forgive, if the offending party hasn't recognized his/her fault?
My Answer, In Brief: Forgiveness must be earned by the person who acted wrongly, but a person can always accept that a wrongdoing happened and choose to move on with his life.
Tags: Ethics, Forgiveness, Judgment, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Redemption
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Question 3: Heavy Drinking (27:07)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on heavy drinking.
What's right or wrong about "heavy drinking"? A while ago, you got into a heated discussion on Facebook about the rationality of what could be described as "heavy drinking." (The CDC defines "heavy drinking" as "consuming an average of more than 2 drinks per day" for men and "consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day" for women.) What's your view of such drinking – and why?
My Answer, In Brief: "Heavy drinking" is a loaded term, but if a person is regularly drinking to the point of tipsiness or worse, then that's a sign of something amiss in the person's life.
Tags: Alcohol/Drugs, Ethics
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Question 4: Making Fun of Others (35:48)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on making fun of others.
Is it moral to make fun of others? Can mocking, or making fun of others ever be good? For instance, many people use it as a way of showing that they dislike someone without having to be direct about it.
My Answer, In Brief: So long as it's done honestly, poking good fun at the evil, the incompetent, and the silly can be moral.
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Question 5: Ending Relationships (45:25)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on ending relationships.
What is the best way to cut someone out of one's life? When ending a friendship with someone is one obliged to give them reasons or is a simple "I no longer want to have a friendship with you" sufficient? What if the person would not accept the reasons or maybe even be driven to revenge or depression by such an action?
My Answer, In Brief: It's often very productive to speak to a person about problems in your relationship, particularly before any end to the relationship. As a default, friends should explain their reasons for ending a relationship.
Tags: Friendship, Judgment, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Relationships
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Question 6: The Bother of Honesty (51:37)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on the bother of honesty.
Why bother being honest, when surrounded by dishonest people? Why not lie, just a little bit to "get ahead". If the guy next to you "games the system" aren't you leaving yourself at a disadvantage? Isn't honesty and integrity, when dealing with people only important if everyone respects those virtues? Why play a game when the rules keep changing?
My Answer, In Brief: Life is not a Prisoner's Dilemma! The virtues are necessary to life and happiness, particularly when others are act viciously.
Tags: Ethics, Honesty, Relationships
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Conclusion (58:45)
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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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