London in 1927… in color!
The video description says:
Incredible colour footage of 1920s London shot by an early British pioneer of film named Claude Frisse-Greene, who made a series of travelogues using the colour process his father William – a noted cinematographer – was experimenting with. It’s like a beautifully dusty old postcard you’d find in a junk store, but moving.
Music by Jonquil and Yann Tiersen.
I love early color photographs and videos. The past seems so much more real in color.
Due to my impending travel for ATLOSCon, I won’t broadcast a new radio show tomorrow — that is, Wednesday, May 22nd. But… Greg and I will broadcast from ATLOSCon — together, in person — on Sunday, May 26th. WOOT!
If you’re sad, you can commiserate with Lila in her Fat Girl Muzzle. She’s very sad that she can’t eat all that yummy grass as fast as usual in it:
Paul said that she looks like Hannibal Lecter… and he has a point!
Be sure to check out any episodes that you’ve missed in the archives, sorted by date and topic.
Heat turns powder into creepy alien creature. No, really.
The first minute and twenty seconds is just a person scooping out the powder into a line, which is rather boring, so you might wish to skip that. You want to watch from the moment that heat is added.
If you’d not offer the same excuses for the scandals and wrongs of the opposite party — e.g. “What does it matter?” or “The President couldn’t have known what these low-level government employees were doing” or “We shouldn’t pry since it’s a matter of national security” or “It’s for the children!” — then you’re just a partisan hack.
Now that some scandals are bearing down on Obama’s Administration, I’m seeing that in spades from my progressive friends. Next time the GOP wins the White House, I’ll see lots of the same from my conservative friends.
Objectivity in politics can be difficult, but too many people don’t even try.
On Sunday’s Philosophy in Action Radio, I answered questions on individualism versus anti-social atomism, poor communication from the boss, visibility of disabled children, arranged marriages, and more with Greg Perkins. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading. You’ll find it on the episode’s archive page, as well as below.
Remember, you can automatically download podcasts of Philosophy in Action Radio by subscribing to Philosophy in Action’s Podcast RSS Feed:
Podcast: Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More
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Remember, with every episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, we show how rational philosophy can help you find joy in your work, model virtue for your kids, pursue your goals effectively, communicate with respect, and advocate for a free society. We can’t do that without your support, so please remember to tip your philosopher!
You can download or listen to individual questions from this episode below.
Introduction (0:00)
My News of the Week: I’ve been preparing the index for my soon-forthcoming book, Responsibility and Luck (a.k.a. my dissertation). I’ve also been preparing my talk on moral amplifiers for ATLOSCon next weekend!
Question 1: Individualism Versus Anti-Social Atomism (2:55)
In this segment, I answered a question on individualism versus anti-social atomism.
Does individualism imply social isolation and atomism? Many critics of Ayn Rand argue that her individualism is hostile to love, concern, and respect for other people. They claim that her “atomistic individualism” doesn’t permit, let alone support, groups or community. Are these criticisms true? What is the right view of human society and sociability?
My Answer, In Brief: Individualism does not mean eschewing society or groups. It means respecting the rights, lives, and minds of individuals in society and groups. It’s the basic moral foundation of healthy social relations.
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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 2: Poor Communication from the Boss (16:37)
In this segment, I answered a question on poor communication from the boss.
How can I make my boss more communicative? My boss hardly ever tells me company news affecting my projects, even when critical. As a result, I’ve wasted days and weeks on useless work, and I’ve gotten into needless conflicts with co-workers. I’m always guessing at what I should be doing, and I just hate that. What can I do to make my boss to be more communicative with me?
My Answer, In Brief: You cannot manage your boss, but you can request more channels of communication, protect yourself from blame for his screw-ups, and if necessary, find a new boss.
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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 3: Visibility of Disabled Children (23:26)
In this segment, I answered a question on visibility of disabled children.
Should disabled kids be kept out of the public eye? Recently, a waiter at a restaurant refused to serve one party after hearing them make fun of a child with Down’s Syndrome sitting with his family in a nearby booth. Both parties were regulars to the restaurant. Some people have praised the waiter’s actions because he took offense at overhearing the first party say “special needs kids should be kept in special places.” He called them on their rudeness and refused to serve them. Others think he was wrong: his catering to the party with the disabled kid is indicative of a culture that embraces mediocrity and disability. What is the proper assessment of the remark made and the waiter’s response? Should people with disabilities be kept from public view?
My Answer, In Brief: Disabled people have every right to be out in the world, pursuing their values – so long as they respect rights and act decently – just as do normal people. To suggest that disabled people should be locked away, as the people at this table did, is morally monstrous.
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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Question 4: Arranged Marriages (40:09)
In this segment, I answered a question on arranged marriages.
Are arranged marriages legally and socially valid? A coworker of mine in his early 20s grew up in India. His parents have arranged his marriage to a young woman who also now lives in the US. He appreciates that his parents selected a wife for him: he doesn’t want to spend the time or take the risk of finding a wife himself. Should such a marriage be considered legally valid? Is it just a marriage of convenience? Is the practice of arranged marriages immoral and/or impractical?
My Answer, In Brief: Arranged marriages are legally and socially valid marriages. However, the institution of arranged marriages is a deeply immoral one: the choice of a spouse is too important to leave to others, and if a person isn’t competent or interested to decide for himself, then he shouldn’t marry.
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Tags: Adult Children, Children, Ethics, Family, Independence, Independence, Marriage, Parenting, Relationships
To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.
Rapid Fire Questions (55:59)
In this segment, I answered questions impromptu. The questions were:
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To comment on these questions or my answers, visit its comment thread.
Conclusion (1:00:59)
Be sure to check out my blog NoodleFood and to submit and vote on questions for upcoming episodes.
About Philosophy in Action Radio
Philosophy in Action Radio applies rational principles to the challenges of real life in live internet radio shows on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.
Remember, with every episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, we show how rational philosophy can help you find joy in your work, model virtue for your kids, pursue your goals effectively, communicate with respect, and advocate for a free society. We can’t do that without your support, so please remember to tip your philosopher!
This week on We Stand FIRM, the blog of FIRM (Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine):
This week on Politics without God, the blog of the Coalition for Secular Government:
This week on The Blog of The Objective Standard:
This week on The Blog of Modern Paleo:
First, from my 10 January 2013 lesson: Jumping an Oxer: The Ugly, The Bad, The Bad, The Bad, and The Good. The first time over was a complete disaster, then it was merely bad, bad, and bad. Finally, I got it right because I turned sooner: I wasn’t preoccupied with straightening her in the strides before the fence, so I was able to focus on getting a good canter from her. (Yes, that makes a world of difference!)
Second, from my 22 January 2013 lesson: Two Fences with a Tight Turn. These tight turns are difficult for Lila and me. If I don’t have her very collected yet still powerful in her stride, they’re a disaster. Here, we did okay.
Earlier this week, I had my first lesson since January 22nd… and it was so much fun! Alas, no video.
On Sunday’s Philosophy in Action Radio, I’ll answer a question on whether disabled kids be kept out of the public eye. The question was inspired by this story of a waiter who refused to serve a table of customers due to their unpleasant remarks about a five-year-old child with Down’s Syndrome at another table. The child was not being loud or disruptive, and he was known and liked by the waiter. The people at the other table reportedly said that “special needs kids should be kept in special places.”
Apparently, that view has some currency among Objectivists, starting with Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand Answers includes the following Q&A:
OY. I’m not a fan of mainstreaming disabled children in schools, except on a case-by-case basis, when everyone benefits thereby. However, the idea that disabled children ought to be kept away from normal children just flabbergasts me.
It’s simply a fact that some people in this world of ours suffer from mental and/or physical disabilities. Even otherwise normal people suffer from disabilities on occasion — not just injuries and illness, but the effects of aging too.
Disabled people are morally entitled to live their lives, pursuing their values to the best of their ability — just like everyone else. That means they’ll be out in the world, where children might see and/or interact with them. Hence, parents should speak to their children about disabilities, including how to interact with disabled people in a morally decent way. That’s an important part of a child’s moral education — if you don’t want little Johnny to push Grandma down the stairs because she was walking too slowly for his tastes, that is.
The moral education required here isn’t rocket science. Disabled people should be treated with civility and respect — just like everyone else. They might merit the effort of a bit of kindness, such as holding open a door or speaking slowly — just like everyone else. Of course, disabled people can be rude or disruptive or offensive or bothersome too. That’s pretty standard behavior for normal people too, albeit with less excuse. The sensible response is not to demand that disabled people be hidden from sight, but rather to put some distance between yourself and the bothersome person. See? Not rocket science!
Well… I’d better stop there, before I dive into a full-blown rant. I have plenty more to say on this topic on Sunday’s Philosophy in Action Radio… so I hope that you join us!
Update of 19 May 2013:
The podcast of Sunday’s Philosophy in Action Radio, including the question on the visibility of disabled children is now available.
Download or Listen to My Full Answer:
Tags: Ayn Rand, Benevolence, Children, Disability, Egoism, Ethics, Individualism, Parenting, Respect, Rights
Links:
On Sunday’s Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I will answer questions on individualism versus atomism, poor communication from the boss, visibility of disabled children, arranged marriages, and more. This episode of internet radio airs at 8 am PT / 9 MT / 10 CT / 11 ET on Sunday, 19 May 2013, in our live studio. If you miss that live broadcast, you can always listen to the podcast later.
This week’s questions are:
After that, we’ll tackle some impromptu “Rapid Fire Questions.”
To join the live broadcast and its chat, just point your browser to Philosophy in Action’s Live Studio a few minutes before the show is scheduled to start. By listening live, you can share your thoughts with other listeners and ask us follow-up questions in the text chat.
If you miss the live broadcast, you’ll find the podcast from the episode posted in the archive: Radio Archive: Q&A: Individualism, Disabled Children, Arranged Marriages, and More. It will be posted on Monday morning, if not sooner. You can automatically download that and other podcasts by subscribing to Philosophy in Action’s Podcast RSS Feed:
I hope you join us on Sunday morning… and please share this announcement with any friends interested in these topics!
Philosophy in Action Radio applies rational principles to the challenges of real life in live internet radio shows on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.
