Q&A Webcast Episode: 4 September 2011
In this 4 September 2011 episode of Q&A Webcast, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered four questions on common mistakes with parents, severing ties with one's parents, enablers of destructive siblings, filial responsibility laws, and more in an hour-long broadcast. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers was the audio co-host.
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My News of the Week: This weekend, I was supposed to speak at the Chicago Objectivist Society's Weekend Conference, but that was cancelled at the last minute due to Paul's hip dislocation and fracture.
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Segments: 4 September 2011
Question 1: Common Mistakes with Parents (5:22)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on common mistakes with parents.
What are some common mistakes that adults make in dealing with their parents? Why do they make those mistakes? And how can they do better?
My Answer, In Brief: Accept your parents for who they are, flaws and all. Don't compromise on your values under pressure. Don't fall back into your childhood patterns.
Tags: Adult Children, Compromise, Ethics, Family, Parenting, Relationships, Tolerance
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Question 2: Severing Ties with One's Parents (23:31)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on severing ties with one's parents.
When should a person maintain a relationship with his parents – or not? When, if ever, should an adult child distance himself from his parents – or cut them off completely? Does it matter if the parent was awful years ago, but since then, he's seemed to reform his ways?
My Answer, In Brief: If a parent does a serious-enough wrong, such that mutually beneficial relationship is impossible, then an adult child can and should sever ties.
Tags: Adult Children, Ethics, Family, Justice, Moral Wrongs, Parenting, Relationships
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Question 3: Enablers of Destructive Siblings (33:25)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on enablers of destructive siblings.
What should a person do with destructive family members and their enablers? One of my brothers, diagnosed with a mental illness, is causing serious problems for my parents. My parents invited my brother to live with them. This brother is 26 years old, he does not hold a steady job, and he has been emotionally abusive and physically violent with my parents. At this point, my parents will not kick him out for fear of being hurt. I don't live at home, but I'm deeply worried for my parents. What should I do?
My Answer, In Brief: You can't force your parents to see the facts of the situation, but you might be able to help them. Get legal advice!
Tags: Adult Children, Ethics, Family, Parenting, Relationships, Siblings
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Question 4: Filial Responsibility Laws (37:59)
In this segment, Dr. Diana Hsieh answered a question on filial responsibility laws.
How should a person deal with filial responsibility laws? In your April 10th webcast, you discussed the morality of taking care of elderly parents. Some states have filial responsibility laws, which would force people to take care of indigent elderly parents. How should a person would cope with such laws in practice?
My Answer, In Brief: If this might be a problem for you, consult a lawyer to find out whether and how you can protect yourself!
Tags: Adult Children, Ethics, Family, Finances, Law, Responsibility, Welfare
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Rapid Fire Questions (41:17)
- How should you respond to religious in-laws who repeatedly comment that you are going to hell, and they are unable to be civil towards you?
- Should you cut ties with a parent who is a flaming communist/socialist?
- Is it moral to take government work (as a contractor) if on projects you don't think the government should do?
- Do you support ideological restrictions (e.g. Islam) on immigration as some conservatives want on national security grounds?
- What should a person do if sexually assaulted by a TSA worker?
- What was the cause of the media obsession with the Casey Anthony trial?
- Is it wrong to be attracted to unhealthy physical characteristics, like fat people?
- Would you want to live in a society where people routinely armed themselves?
- Why carry a concealed weapon, rather than carry openly?
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Conclusion (1:00:00)
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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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