On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, being virtuous but not happy, defending abortion rights, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Whole Podcast: 20 April 2014

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Podcast Segments: 20 April 2014

You can download or listen to my answers to individual questions from this episode below.

Introduction

My News of the Week: I’ve been finalizing the questions for Explore Atlas Shrugged.

Question 1: The Philosophy of Immanuel Kant

Question: What’s so bad about the philosophy of Immanuel Kant? In academic philosophy, Kant is often regarded as the culmination of the Enlightenment. According to this standard view, Kant sought to save reason from skeptics such as Hume, he aimed to ground ethics in reason, and he defended human autonomy and liberty. In contrast, Ayn Rand famously regarded Kant as “the most evil man in mankind’s history.” She rejected his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics, saying that “the philosophy of Kant is a systematic rationalization of every major psychological vice.” Who is right here? What’s right or wrong with his philosophy?

My Answer, In Brief: Immanuel Kant’s metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics represent radical departures from the Enlightenment traditions – and they ushered in the close of that period of thought. Ayn Rand’s philosophic criticisms of him are well-deserved.

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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Question 2: Being Virtuous But Not Happy

Question: How can I live more joyfully? I believe that the world is a wonderful place full of opportunity, great things, and lovely people. I also believe that I am an efficacious person, and therefore capable of flourishing and achieving happiness. So why do my emotions not match my convictions? I want to live more joyfully. I adhere to the cardinal virtues to the best of my ability. I’ve tried mental exercises, such as listing all my personal values and thinking about how important and good they are for me, but it still doesn’t make me feel happy. What am I doing wrong? What can I do instead?

My Answer, In Brief: You need to jettison this overly abstract view of your life, and instead learn to live in all the messy particular moments of your days, so that those moments add up to an interesting, engaging, challenging, and meaningful life.

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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Question 3: Defending Abortion Rights

Question: How can abortion rights be more effectively defended? Although the biblical case against abortion is weak, the religious right has gained much traction against abortion rights in the last decade or two. The “personhood” movement is growing every year, and incremental restrictions on abortion have mushroomed. Even more alarming, the demographics seem to be against abortion rights: young people are increasingly opposed to abortion. What can be done to more effectively defend abortion rights? Can any lessons be drawn from the success of the campaign for gay marriage?

My Answer, In Brief: The advocates of abortion bans are largely motivated by the divine command, “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” which is then often cast in the language of the “right to life.” To combat that, those people need to be confronted with the reality of what abortion bans mean to women and couples.

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To comment on this question or my answer, visit its comment thread.

Rapid Fire Questions

Questions:

  • What do you think of Sartre’s dictum that when you make choices, you should always imagine that you are serving as a role model for the rest of mankind?

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  • Start Time: 1:25:43
  • Duration: 3:22
  • Download: MP3 Segment

To comment on these questions or my answers, visit its comment thread.

Conclusion

Be sure to check out the topics scheduled for upcoming episodes! Don’t forget to submit and vote on questions for future episodes too!

  • Start Time: 1:29:06


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Philosophy in Action Radio focuses on the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. It broadcasts live on most Sunday mornings and many Thursday evenings over the internet. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.

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