Q&A Webcast Episode: 10 April 2011
In this 10 April 2011 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered six questions on morality and god, ideological conflicts in romance, obligations to parents, pressure to procreate, progress in objectivism, kids and religion, and more in an hour-long broadcast. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was the audio co-host.
Remember, while Philosophy in Action's broadcasts are available to anyone, free of charge. We love doing them, but they're not free to produce: they require our time, effort, and money – week in and week out. So if you enjoy them, please contribute to our tip jar. We suggest $5 per episode or $20 per month, but any amount is appreciated. You can contribute by PayPal to diana@philosophyinaction.com. If you prefer to send a check, please write "P/A" in the memo field and send it to "Diana Hsieh; P.O. Box 851; Sedalia, CO 80135."
My News of the Week: My current projects include my April 13th Webcast on "Cultivating Moral Character" for the SnowCon 2011 Webcast and the pledge-funded update to Explore Atlas Shrugged.
Listen Now 
- Duration: 1:07:53
Download the Episode 
Subscribe to the Feed
Share This Episode
Segments: 10 April 2011
Question 1: Morality and God (6:12)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on morality and god.
Does morality require God? Many devoutly religious people claim that morality requires God. They say that without a supernatural lawgiver, anything would be morally permissible. Is that right? Are relativism or subjectivism the only alternatives to religious morality?
My Answer, In Brief: Morality can and ought to be based on facts about man's nature and the nature of the universe. A morality dependent on God is subjective – and ultimately, just another form of relativism.
Tags: Atheism, Ethics, Relativism, Religion
Listen or Download 
Relevant Links
Comments
Question 2: Ideological Conflicts in Romance (21:15)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on ideological conflicts in romance.
How should a person deal with ideological conflicts with a spouse? In particular, if a person discovers and embraces Objectivism while already in a serious relationship (perhaps marriage) with a non-Objectivist, what's the best way to deal with conflicts that arise due to divergent principles?
My Answer, In Brief: Provided that the gap can be bridged, each person must be wholly honest with the other, while giving the other space to pursue his/her own values.
Tags: Compromise, Ethics, Philosophy, Politics, Relationships, Romance
Listen or Download
Relevant Links
Comments
Question 3: Obligations to Parents (31:41)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on obligations to parents.
Is it my responsibility to look after my parents in their old age? Should I expect to support my parents financially and/or care for them as they get older? More generally, what responsibilities do adult children have towards their parents, if any?
My Answer, In Brief: An adult child has no duty to sacrifice himself for his parents, but he ought to assist them in proportion to his capacity and their value to him.
Tags: Adult Children, Family, Finances, Parents
Listen or Download
Comments
Question 4: Pressure to Procreate (41:18)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on pressure to procreate.
What do you say to parents pressuring you to have kids? Lately, my parents have been urging my wife and me to have kids. They really want grandkids, I think. So they've been dropping not-so-subtle hints to that effect. Also, they say that I'll regret not having kids, that kids are just part of being an adult, that I'll adore my own kids once I have them, and so on. What should I say in reply to those kinds of hints and comments?
My Answer, In Brief: As with other personal decisions, you must establish and maintain your boundaries. Don't be wishy-washy, don't engage in repeated or prolonged discussions. Treat the question – in your own mind and in any discussions about it – as your own personal decision.
Tags: Adult Children, Children, Communication, Family, Parenting, Parents, Relationships
Listen or Download
Comments
Question 5: Progress in Objectivism (48:29)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on progress in objectivism.
What were Ayn Rand's shortcomings in her understanding and/or practice of Objectivism? After having listened to a number of Rationally Selfish Webcast episodes, some passing statements make it sound like Ayn Rand had a complete understanding and perfect execution of Objectivism. I'm attracted to Objectivism as a rational approach to morality and philosophy but bothered by how untouchable Ayn Rand appears to be. To compare, Isaac Newton did wonders for the world of physics, but if we hadn't evolved his theories, our world would be far less advanced. Maybe a better question would be: What progress in understanding has been made by Objectivists since Ayn Rand's death?
My Answer, In Brief: Objectivism is Ayn Rand's philosophy. It's a system of fundamental principles, not everything she said or believed. It's not equivalent to all philosophy, let alone all truth. The wonderful new work done by Objectivists scholars and intellectuals in recent years should be credited to them, not wrongly claimed to be part of Objectivism.
Tags: Objectivism, Philosophy
Listen or Download
Relevant Links
Comments
Question 6: Kids and Religion (1:01:00)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on kids and religion.
Should atheistic parents encourage their children to explore religion? Why or why not? And if so, how?
My Answer, In Brief: Kids should learn about religion, as a cultural and historical force. Parents should not dogmatize against religion, although parents should openly explain their own views when asked.
Tags: Atheism, Children, Communication, Education, Religion
Listen or Download
Comments
Conclusion (1:07:05)
Thank you for joining us for this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please don't forget to contribute to contribute to our tip jar. Also, please don't forget to submit and vote on questions for upcoming broadcasts in in the question queue.
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.
Support Philosophy in Action
Philosophy in Action's broadcasts are available to anyone, free of charge. We love doing them, but they're not free for us to produce: they require our time, effort, and money. So if you enjoy and value our work, please contribute to our tip jar!
If you'd like to make a one-time contribution in an amount not listed, use this link. For instructions on canceling or revising your monthly contribution, visit the support page.
Thank you, if you've contributed to our tip jar! You make our work possible, and we're so grateful for that! Also, whether you're able to contribute financially or not, we always appreciate your helping us spread the word about Philosophy in Action to anyone you think might be interested, as well as submitting and voting on questions for upcoming episodes.