Philosophy Weekend: News from Philosophy in Action

Every Saturday, I post the news of the week from my primary work, Philosophy in Action, where I apply rational principles to the challenges of real life. Here's this week's update.

Upcoming Radio Shows

Philosophy in Action Radio broadcasts live over the internet on most Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Below are the episodes upcoming this week. I hope that you join us! More upcoming episodes can be found here: Episodes on Tap.

Thursday evening, 27 February 2014: Q&A on Egoism and Social Virtues, Being Supportive, and More

I'll answer these questions on the live broadcast of Philosophy in Action Radio on Thursday evening, 27 February 2014.

• Question 1: Egoism and Other People: Does ethical egoism promote narcissism and insensitivity to others? People often suggest that ethical egoism – such as that advocated by Ayn Rand – promotes unfriendly if not hostile behavior toward other people. Ultimately, the egoist cares for himself above everything else, perhaps to the point that the thoughts and feelings of others aren't even noticed or of concern. The problem seems to be exacerbated by a commitment to moral absolutes and moral judgment. Do such philosophic principles incline a person to be self-absorbed, insensitive, hostile, unkind, or otherwise unpleasant to others? How can egoists take care not to fall into these traps?
• Question 2: Being Supportive Versus Being Needy: Should my romantic partner be interested in and supportive of my accomplishments and pursuits? I have struggled for years in a relationship with someone who shows no interest in or support for my pursuits. I try not to be hurt. I tell myself I just need to do better in order to be worthy of respect and admiration. When I do explain to my partner why I'm hurt, he says I am being needy and that I shouldn't need his praise or reinforcement. I don't know how to logically disagree with this, yet I know how good it feels to receive earned praise from friends, and how painful it feels to accomplish something big and not receive any acknowledgement from my partner. What kind of emotional support should be expected from a partner? If a partner is dismissive and neglectful, how can one gain the confidence needed to leave the relationship?

The live broadcast begins at 6 pm PT / 7 MT / 8 CT / 9 ET on Thursday, 27 February 2014. The podcast will be posted later that day. For more details, check out the episode page.

Recent Podcasts

The podcasts of last week's radio shows are now available. Check out the full collection of past radio shows in the archives, sorted by date or by topic. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast RSS feed too.

20 February 2014: Q&A on Buying Time in Elections, Regretful Parents, and More

I answered these questions on Thursday's Philosophy in Action Radio:

Should voters attempt to 'buy time' for liberty by voting for Republican candidates? What should prospective parents do to ensure they won't regret having children?

You can listen to or download the podcast below, and visit the episode's page for more, including audio files for individual questions.

• Duration: 1:09:50
• Download: Enhanced M4A File (25.1 MB) or Standard MP3 File (24.0 MB)
• Tags: Children, Conservatives, Elections, Emotions, Ethics, Liberals, Life, Parenting, Politics, Sacrifice, Values, Voting

Recent Blog Posts

Here are last week's posts to Philosophy in Action's blog NoodleFood, ordered from oldest to newest. Don't miss a post: subscribe to NoodleFood's RSS Feed.

• February 17: Activism Recap
• February 18: Preview: Thursday Radio: Buying Time in Elections, Regretful Parents, and More
• February 18: A Quick Report from Aiken
• February 20: Perfectionism: Good and Bad
• February 21: NoodleCast #271: Buying Time in Elections, Regretful Parents, and More
• February 21: Link-O-Rama

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