Q&A Webcast Episode: 17 July 2011
In this 17 July 2011 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered four questions on calls for moderation, spying on children, family members spreading urban legends, racism in dating, and more in an hour-long broadcast. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was the audio co-host.
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Segments: 17 July 2011
Question 1: Calls for Moderation (2:49)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on calls for moderation.
What's right or wrong about calls for "moderation"? Many things are black and white, but sometimes moderation seems like the right course. For example, you don't want to stuff yourself full of every food that strikes your fancy, nor deny yourself foods that you enjoy. So you should eat moderately. Similarly, you don't want to agree to or deny every favor asked by a friend, but rather do some moderate amount. Is moderation a good guide in some areas of life?
My Answer, In Brief: The supposed ideal of "moderation" ignores the complex array of values at stake in our decisions. Too often, it's just an excuse for unthinking adherence to the status quo. Instead, a person ought to identify the proper standards of value based his purposes and the means of achieving them, then act accordingly... even if that requires doing something quite "extreme" by conventional standards.
Tags: Absolutes, Aristotle, Ethics, Nutrition, Relationships
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Question 2: Spying on Children (20:44)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on spying on children.
Is it proper (and sensible) for parents to "spy" on their children? Amid the recent controversy over the iPhone's location tracking database, I realized that some enterprising parents might use it to surreptitiously track their teenager's whereabouts. In most cases, I'd assume the parents have good intentions in doing so. Is this responsible parenting – or an invasion of the child's privacy?
My Answer, In Brief: Children don't have a right to privacy, but parents shouldn't be "spying" on their kids, but rather setting and enforcing appropriate limits.
Tags: Children, Honesty, Parenting, Technology
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Question 3: Family Members Spreading Urban Legends (28:22)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on family members spreading urban legends.
How should I respond to the urban legends forwarded by a family member? I've repeatedly pointed this family member to Snopes.com, in response to his forwarding of yet another urban legend. I keep hoping that he'll get the hint – and check for himself before hitting the "forward" button. Yet he never does so, and he's sending false, defamatory, and/or possibly dangerous information to everyone in his address book. This person is pretty smart – and he's kind and friendly. I'd hate to do anything that would mar our relationship. What should I do?
My Answer, In Brief: Be clear about what you want from the family member – then ask for that, firmly but kindly.
Tags: Epistemology, Family, Honesty, Internet, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Rationality
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Question 4: Racism in Dating (34:58)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on racism in dating.
Is it racist to refuse to date people of a certain ethnic background? Recently, black singer Jill Scott said that she felt her soul "wince" whenever a black man married a white woman. Many people have denounced that as racism, and I agree with that. However, I was shocked to see a black man (known to me only via Facebook) say that he'd never date a white woman due to the history of slavery in America. He even suggested that Tiger Woods was some kind of traitor to his race for marrying blonde beauty Ellen Nordegren. Is that racist?
My Answer, In Brief: People are individuals, and ought to be treated as such. To judge people as worthy or not based on ethnic origin is racist – whoever does it!
Tags: Dating, Discrimination, Marriage, Race, Racism, Relationships
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Rapid Fire Questions (43:48)
- Is it okay to act "moderately" when you don't know what the proper standards are?
- Should spouses share internet logins and passwords?
- What's wrong with hippies?
- Should people clap (or otherwise make noise) in the middle of movies?
- What about hipsters?
- Is fidelity to one person in marriage a psychological issue – i.e. the special sciences – rather than a philosophical matter?
- What's the value of saying "I love you" to your significant other – and doesn't it get old if said too much?
- Do you think that it's irrational for a person to only date people with certain genetic traits, such as blonde hair?
- What do you think about organic farming?
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Conclusion (1:00:08)
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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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