Philosophy In Action

Every Sunday morning, philosopher Dr. Diana Hsieh answers your questions on the principles for living a happy, virtuous, and free life in her live Philosophy In Action Webcast. It's at 8 am PT / 9 am MT / 10 am CT / 11 am ET at http://www.PhilosophyInAction.com. Submit your questions here!
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63 votes Vote

Can a central purpose be something other than a career?

In the February 12th, 2012 webcast, you answered a question about pursuing a career that one likes, but doesn't love. Your answer in brief: "A person's work should serve his life, and sometimes that means choosing the one career that you're wildly...
Tori, 19.02.2012, 13:17
1 comment
60 votes Vote

How can I identify my central purpose?

I understand the importance of a central purpose to organize my values and pursuits. However, I'm not sure how to identify what my central purpose is. Is it just my career -- or something broader than that?
Anonymous, 24.04.2012, 18:18
1 comment
58 votes Vote

What is the moral line between respecting copyrights and fair use?

From a moral rather than legal perspective, what are the requirements to respect someone's right to their own work? For example if you have a movie on DVD is it moral to switch it to electronic form for your own use or should you buy the other...
Rose, 16.02.2012, 09:55
0 comments
45 votes Vote

Are "stand your ground" self-defense laws proper?

Should a potential crime victim in reasonable fear of of his life be required to attempt to withdraw from a confrontation when possible? Or is it proper to allow him to "stand his ground" and use a firearm to kill the assailant?
Anonymous, 25.03.2012, 09:50
2 comments
42 votes Vote

Is it morally wrong to 'root' or 'jailbreak' your own electronic devices ?

Maybe I'm just too stupid or lazy to read through all the legal-ese that comes with these devices, so I don't know whether technically a customer is contractually obligated not to do it. But I know that companies try to design their products so...
tomhall, 25.01.2012, 12:51
1 comment
42 votes Vote

Does evolutionary theory contradict the principles of Objectivism?

I am new to atheism and Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, and I embrace both wholeheartedly. However, I take issue with the theory of evolution. Atheism seems to imply evolution, but evolution seems to clash with Objectivism. Evolution...
i_amjohngalt, 18.08.2012, 13:45
1 comment
41 votes Vote

Is running prisons a legitimate function of government or should they be privatized?

Private prisons are a billion dollar industry here in the United States, but is that really something that should be left to private companies or should the government handle it? I heard a report on NPR on this topic and there are arguments about...
Trey, 05.11.2011, 15:09
0 comments
41 votes Vote

Is an age of sexual consent below the age of majority proper?

Most states in the US set the age of sexual consent at 16 years old. (Some set it at 17 and a few at 18.) At what age is freedom of sexual choice proper for minors? Also, most states have further laws to prevent abuses of power, i.e. between...
Isaac, 09.12.2011, 16:07
0 comments
38 votes Vote

Is it moral to seek a "four hour work week"?

Is a four-hour (or otherwise very short) work week compatible with the idea that a person's productive work should be his central purpose? If a person is so productive that he is able to enjoy a great life by only working a few hours per week,...
Bryan, 09.09.2011, 11:03
2 comments
38 votes Vote

Can a person's central purpose change over the course of his life?

Many people think that a person's central purpose shouldn't change with time. Hence, they say that parenting, hobbies, and other activities outside of one's career cannot serve as a central purpose. But I think that a central purpose can change,...
Kelly Valenzuela, 24.04.2012, 19:13
0 comments
38 votes Vote

Is it ever okay to tell a lie as part of a happy surprise for someone else?

This question is from Ryan (age 11) and Morgan (age 8). We bought birthday presents for our brother Sean, and we had to sneak them into the house. We wanted Sean not to know what we were doing. At first, we thought we should make up a story...
Jenn Casey, Yesterday, 16:59
0 comments
32 votes Vote

Is a "social contract" the proper basis for government?

The idea of a "social contract" is often used to justify all kinds of government interventions for the so-called "greater good." What does it mean to say that society is founded on a social contract? What are the practical implications of that...
Kevin Douglas, 04.01.2012, 21:22
0 comments
29 votes Vote

Should we use an alternative voting system?

Does the current voting system make it too difficult for decent candidates to win? Right now, it seems that we end up with candidates who appeal to the hard core base of the major parties (such as anti-abortion Republicans or hard-left...
Anonymous, 05.11.2011, 15:34
1 comment
28 votes Vote

What's the best way to refute social-science-type arguments for egalitarianism?

The 2009 book "The Spirit Level" argues that income inequality has a broad range of negative effects on society. "It claims that for each of eleven different health and social problems: physical health, mental health, drug abuse, education,...
Rory, 24.10.2011, 16:08
0 comments
25 votes Vote

Should a person without other options accept welfare from the government?

I've had generalized anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember. I live in Sweden, and my government has so many labor regulations that no business can hire me, and charities don't exist to help me. Is it wrong, in such a case, to accept...
Johan Eriksson, 15.09.2012, 12:21
0 comments
23 votes Vote

Is John Rawls' argument for egalitarianism based on the "veil of ignorance" objective?

In his seminal book "A Theory of Justice," political philosopher John Rawls argues for an egalitarian welfare state in which inequality is only permitted if of benefit to the least well-off person. He claims that everyone would agree to this...
Anonymous, 01.12.2011, 11:25
1 comment
23 votes Vote

Is elective abortion morally wrong?

Some conservatives support abortion in the cases of rape or incest, as well as in cases of serious medical problems with the fetus or the pregnancy. However, they regard the termination of a normal, healthy pregnancy as morally wrong,...
Anonymous, 15.01.2012, 18:08
0 comments
23 votes Vote

Do libel and slander laws violate or protect rights?

Every few weeks, the media reports on some notable (or absurd) defamation case -- meaning a claim of "false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another, as by slander or libel." While a person's reputation as a business or person is...
Tim Cheadle, 25.01.2012, 08:13
1 comment
23 votes Vote

Should it be legal for individuals to own automatic weapons?

I unequivocally think that people have a right to own handguns. Tentatively, though, I have difficulty in arguing that it should be legal for private households to own sniper rifles or automatic weapons. I'm definitely far from an expert on...
legendre007, 21.12.2012, 03:22
2 comments
22 votes Vote

Are the moral arguments for vegetarianism rational?

People often argue for vegetarianism on the grounds that a person can (and perhaps should) regard the lives of animals to be a higher value than the advantages to eating meat such as taste or nutrition. Is this a rational moral outlook,...
Arianna, 01.01.2013, 10:53
1 comment
21 votes Vote

What's morally right or wrong about adverse possession laws?

Adverse possession laws essentially state that if you make a good faith effort to find the owner of a property but are unable to do so, then "conspicuously and openly" occupy the home for a period of time, you can take possession of the property....
Santiago J Valenzuela, 01.08.2011, 12:19
0 comments
21 votes Vote

Why do businessmen attribute their successes or failures to luck?

In his bestseller "Good to Great," Jim Collins reports that corporate leaders attributed their results to luck (p. 33-5). Great companies had 'good luck', and their competitors had 'bad luck.' Why would leaders of comparable companies attribute...
JimWoods, 03.08.2011, 19:31
1 comment
20 votes Vote

How can a proper government be ideologically neutral if based on an ideology of individual rights?

A proper government should not have a position on specific ideas such as communism, Christianity, or Objectivism. It should not promote or suppress any ideology. However, a proper government is also necessarily based on a specific set of ideas,...
gidreich, 21.11.2011, 13:08
0 comments
20 votes Vote

Can Islam change for the better?

Many critics of Islam claim that the religion is inherently totalitarian, violent, and repressive -- and hence, that change for the better is utterly impossible. An Islamic reformation or enlightenment will never happen, they say. Is that true?...
Anonymous, 20.09.2012, 20:27
0 comments
19 votes Vote

To what extent are voters responsible for the actions of politicians?

Suppose that a candidate announces his plans and actions for next term before the election. Are the people who vote for that candidate morally sanctioning and/or responsible for those actions, for better or worse? For example, you vote for a...
blunereid, 06.11.2011, 10:40
0 comments
19 votes Vote

Would an ideal government issue bans/regulations to prevent harmful activity?

At the turn of the 20th century it was common to use cyanide gas to fumigate buildings. Although it was well-known that cyanide gas was extremely poisonous and alternatives were available, its use continued and resulted in a number of accidental...
Trey Peden, 31.12.2011, 07:41
1 comment
19 votes Vote

Should dueling and other consensual fights be legal?

In your September 5th, 2012 interview with Dr. Eric Daniels, you discussed some of America's violent past traditions, including the practice of dueling. While I have no intention of challenging my rivals to mortal combat, I cannot see why this...
Bill Callahan, 28.01.2013, 19:42
1 comment
18 votes Vote

Should a person try to "win friends and influence people"?

In the classic book "How to Win Friends and Influence People," Dale Carnegie offers a wide range of advice on how to get what you want from other people. Some of this seems manipulative or second-handed, but is that right? Is the advice in the...
Anonymous, 31.12.2012, 20:21
0 comments
17 votes Vote

Is it wrong for an atheist to patronize religious businesses?

Is it an endorsement of religion or failure of integrity for an atheist to buy goods or services from a religious business, such hiring an explicitly religious (and advertised as such) plumber or joining the local YMCA?
scryer, 16.11.2011, 04:52
0 comments
17 votes Vote

Is it wrong to con jerks and blowhards?

I know that dishonesty is wrong, but conning jerks and blowhards out of their money (e.g., http://ragecollection.com/20653 ) seems like justice at its best. So is it wrong?
Kyle, 27.11.2011, 22:57
0 comments

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