Join philosopher Dr. Diana Hsieh for a lively hour-long broadcast in the next episode of Philosophy in Action Q&A Radio! She'll answer questions on warning others about dangerous people, explaining a firing, investment versus sacrifice, downloading music after hard drive failure, and more. The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, 20 May 2012, at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ET. (Due to her travel schedule, Diana won't be broadcasting on Wednesday, May 23rd.)


Language

  • The Meaning of Faith: Q&A Webcast: 26 Feb 2012, Question 4
  • Question: Is it wrong to use "faith" to mean "trust and confidence in a person"? Some people talk about having "faith" in their friends or in themselves – and by that, they mean that they trust and have confidence in those people. Is it wrong to use "faith" in that way? In other words, blind faith is wrong, but is all faith blind faith?

  • Dismissing Arguments with Pejorative Language: Q&A Webcast: 12 June 2011, Question 6
  • Question: Is pejorative rhetoric useful? When should you or when may you describe someone's argument or analysis in pejorative terms, because you don't consider them intellectually honest or educable, and you just want to make it clear to the wider audience that you don't accept them as a worthwhile opponent? Is it acceptable to just vent in such cases?

  • Appropriating Insulting Terms: Q&A Webcast: 12 June 2011, Question 5
  • Question: What do you think of people using pejorative terms for themselves, such as gays referring to themselves as "faggots" or Objectivists calling themselves "Randroids"? The term "Randroid" is supposed to imply that Objectivists are unthinking, mindless drones. However, I happily use this term to describe myself – after first calling myself an Objectivist, of course – because I think it squashes a lot of the negativity behind the pejorative when I adopt it willingly. Do you think it's for good Objectivists to adopt this term – and more generally, for people to use insults as badges of honor?

  • The Excuse of "I'm Only Human": Q&A Webcast: 27 Mar 2011, Question 4
  • Question: What do you think of the oft-quoted bromide "I'm only human"? I have heard that phrase often, and it seems there are several uses to which it is applied, some legitimate and some seem nefarious and ugly.

  • "That's So Gay": Q&A Webcast: 13 Mar 2011, Question 4
  • Question: Is it wrong to jokingly use the term "that's so gay" among friends? I have many friends who are homosexual, and they and I and anyone I use this term with know there's nothing wrong with homosexuality. But sometimes this term does feel natural to use, even though I am not thinking about any negative association with actual homosexuals. Is it better to just avoid saying, "That's so gay", or even joking about how gay something appears, given that we ought not to see it as anything shameful?

  • Misused Words: Q&A Webcast: 9 Jan 2011, Question 5
  • Question: How should we act towards others with poor conceptual habits? How should one act towards others who consistently refuse to use some concepts properly? For example, those who call margarine "butter" despite the drastic difference in their chemical makeup.

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