Q&A Webcast Episode: 24 July 2011
In this 24 July 2011 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered four questions on the effects of immortality on ethics, the morality of hiring illegal immigrants, the reasons for carrying a concealed weapon, explaining egoism to others, and more in an hour-long broadcast. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was the audio co-host.
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Segments: 24 July 2011
Question 1: The Effects of Immortality on Ethics (2:49)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on the effects of immortality on ethics.
If science can someday secure immortality, would that affect a person's values and morals? Imagine that scientists discover how to keep our bodies forever young, that all diseases were prevented or cured by nanotechnology, and that we could withstand massive amounts of physical force, virtually all extremes of temperature, and all forms of radiation due to robotic and genetic enhancements. Imagine, in short, that a person could only die by being sucked into a black hole, but that would never happen because we know where all of them are and could easily avoid them. Would this change anything fundamental about human life, particularly about ethics? Given that the Objectivist ethics is founded on the conditionality of life, would and should virtually immortal people still pursue their happiness and other values? Would ethics have to be redefined or put on a new foundation?
My Answer, In Brief: Be realistic in thinking about ethics! Even if scientists conquer aging and other common causes of death, life will still require the dogged pursuit of rationally selfish values – and the result of failure is death.
Tags: Ethics, Life Extension, Values
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Question 2: The Morality of Hiring Illegal Immigrants (14:14)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on the morality of hiring illegal immigrants.
Is it immoral to hire illegal immigrants? While laws restricting immigration seem terribly irrational – both in terms of intent and effects – they are still technically the law. Illegal immigrants often make themselves available for day-to-day work, and hiring them for a day has an almost zero chance of legal punishment for myself for having hired them. Is it moral to disobey an irrational law if I'm unlikely to be punished for it?
My Answer, In Brief: Laws restricting immigration are destructive, irrational, and unworthy of respect. Illegal immigrants and their employers are victims of unjust laws, not criminals.
Tags: Business, Ethics, Immigration, Law, Politics
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Question 3: The Reasons for Carrying a Concealed Weapon (23:29)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on the reasons for carrying a concealed weapon.
Why would an ordinary person wish to carry a gun? In your July 3rd webcast, you mentioned that you have a concealed carry permit. Why? Even if a person should be allowed to carry a firearm, shouldn't we rely on the experts – namely the police – to protect us from criminals?
My Answer, In Brief: To carry a concealed firearm is not just practical, but moral too. Every person ought take responsibility for his own life, including defending it when threatened by a criminal.
Tags: Ethics, Firearms, Law, Politics, Self-Defense
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Question 4: Explaining Egoism to Others (34:35)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on explaining egoism to others.
Why should I be an egoist? How do you explain that in layman's terms to someone in your life?
My Answer, In Brief: When explaining to someone why you're an egoist – or what that means – draw on your own personal experience to make your answers clear and meaningful.
Tags: Communication, Egoism, Ethics
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Rapid Fire Questions (47:43)
- What's your preferred firearm – and is that what you carry?
- What do you think of the new atheists like Richard Dawkins?
- How do you respond when people say that they're going to pray for you?
- How do you respond when people ask you to pray for them?
- What do you do when you're eating dinner with people who pray before eating?
- Shouldn't an egoist want other people to be altruists?
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Conclusion (1:04:25)
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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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