On the next Philosophy in Action Radio, I'll answer questions on positive change in Islam, self-esteem and appearance, rational suicide, deep-down atheism, and more. The live broadcast begins at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 24 November 2013. If you can't attend live, be sure to listen to the podcast later.

The Ethics of Open Relationships

Q&A Radio: Sunday, 26 May 2013, Question 1

I answered a question on the ethics of open relationships on Philosophy in Action Radio on 26 May 2013. You can listen to or download the podcast segment below – or check out the whole episode.

Can open relationships be moral? Can it ever be moral to have sex with someone else while in a relationship, assuming that you're honest with everyone involved? If not, why not? If so, what might be some of the pitfalls to be aware of? For example, should the criteria for selecting sexual partners be stricter than if you were single? How should you navigate the tricky territory of opening a previously closed relationship?

My Answer, In Brief: Open relationships can be beneficial for certain people in certain contexts. Yet they have major pitfalls, and people need to be very aware of those dangers before opening their relationship to multiple partners.

Tags: Communication, Ethics, Honesty, Love, Polyamory, Respect, Romance, Sex


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About Philosophy in Action Radio

I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My first book, Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame, is available for purchase in paperback, as well as for Kindle and Nook. The book defends the justice of moral praise and blame of persons using an Aristotelian theory of moral responsibility, thereby refuting Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."

My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.

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For regular updates, commentary, and humor, read my blog NoodleFood and subscribe to its Blog RSS Feed. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and connect on social media too.

I can be reached via e-mail to [email protected].

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