Tag Archives: Philosophy

The Role of Government During a Health Crisis with Onkar Ghate and Greg Salmieri

March 27, 2020PodcastAyn Rand, Ayn Rand Institute, Coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, government, life, Objectivism, pandemic, Philosophy, rightsAlex Wigger

Governments are taking unprecedented measures to restrict travel and shut down businesses in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Politicians are justifying these measures by invoking emergency, even wartime, powers. What is the proper role of government during a health crisis like this one? What values should guide us in thinking about proper policy in regard to life and death issues, especially in an individualistic society?

Join us for another special episode of Philosophy for Living on Earth to get clarity on these questions. Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri will join us and add their perspective.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:32:35 — 84.8MB)

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The Pandemic and the Economy with Yaron Brook and Rob Tarr

March 25, 2020Podcastbailout, capitalism, Coronavirus, COVID-19, debt, economy, money, pandemic, Philosophy, stock marketAlex Wigger

With the stock market now crashing and many people facing unemployment in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, governments are reacting with a variety allegedly aimed at stabilizing the markets and promoting economic security.

What effects will these measures have on the economy? Will they address the root causes of the crash or might they aggravate the situation further?

In this special episode of Philosophy for Living on Earth, finance and economics specialists Yaron Brook and Rob Tarr join us to answer these questions from a rational perspective.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:43 — 70.3MB)

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Is There a Rational Morality? by Ben Bayer

March 19, 2020PodcastAyn Rand, choice, ethics, life, morality, Objectivity, Philosophy, reality, reason, thinkingAlex Wigger

Most people think about morality as a set of commandments handed down by a god. Others believe we can get moral guidance by consulting our own feelings of sympathy for the needs and desires of other people.

Are these the only two options? Does morality have to be based on faith in a higher dimension or on feelings for others on Earth?

Those who believe morality is based on either faith or feelings assume there can be no rational basis for morality. Is that true? Are there no observable facts by which we can decide what’s the right and wrong way to live?

Join Ben Bayer and explore the question: Is there a rational morality?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:20 — 56.2MB)

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What Drives History? by Keith Lockitch

March 11, 2020PodcastAyn Rand, culture, history, human behavior, humanity, ideas, influence, Objectivism, Philosophy, societyphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

What explains the major developments and trends that have shaped our world through the ages? Human history is complex and, obviously, there are many factors involved. And some of the questions raised are these: Is there a fundamental cause that explains the big picture? Is there an ultimate cause that directs the overall sweep of history?

Ayn Rand, the iconic American novelist and philosopher, argues that there is. In her view, the primary force that drives history is philosophy—the basic philosophic ideas that shape people’s beliefs and values and, therefore, their choices and actions.

Join Keith Lockitch and explore the question: What drives history?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:33 — 57.3MB)

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Is Privilege Real? by Gregory Salmieri

February 26, 2020Podcastconcepts, fairness, history, Justice, Philosophy, principles, privilege, race, rights, systemsphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

Many people believe that privilege—the idea that special rights or advantages are available only to a particular person or group—is a problem. While there are advantages, such as the wealth and location of one’s parents, that are not a choice, there are reasons to be skeptical about whether or not privilege is a problem. For example, many United States immigrants start with nothing, but succeed through hard work.

Does the concept of privilege only apply in a specific context? How does it apply to issues of race?

Join David Birnbaum as he interviews philosopher Gregory Salmieri on the question: Is privilege real?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:19 — 60.7MB)

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What’s Wrong with “Virtue Signaling”? by Ben Bayer

January 29, 2020PodcastAyn Rand, Ben Bayer, ethics, Justice, Philosophy, public, The Virtue of Selfishness, values, vanity, virtuephilosophy-for-living-on-earth

Think about celebrities who tweet about their politics all the time, or think about companies who want you to buy their products because they’re supposedly eco-friendly. Some say that these are symptoms of an epidemic that’s coursing it’s way through social media and through our political discourse generally, an epidemic they call “virtue signalling”.

Ben Bayer, a fellow at The Ayn Rand Institute, has some questions about this. You’re said to be a virtue signaller when you promote some cause or criticize some figure people love to hate in a way that doesn’t involve much cost, but which draws attention to your own right way of thinking.

What, if anything, is wrong with this kind of behavior? Is there a kind of behavior here at all or do the critics of virtue signalling lump together lots of different things? Is speaking out ineffective only because it’s speaking? Does profiting from the judgment of others make you insincere?

Join Ben Bayer and explore the question: What’s wrong with “virtue signalling”?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:55 — 55.8MB)

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Is Artistic Preference Subjective? by Harry Binswanger

December 18, 2019Podcastaesthetics, art, Atlas Shrugged, epistemology, Harry Binswanger, independence, judgment, Philosophy, Podcast, proof, The Fountainheadphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

At the turn of the millennium, two different polls were held. The question was: What’s the best English-language novel of the twentieth century? One poll questioned literary experts—they picked Ulysses by James Joyce. The second poll questioned internet users—their choice was Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Is there any objective way to settle who is…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:26 — 56.3MB)

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Should You Judge Other People? by Elan Journo

December 16, 2019PodcastElan Journo, ethics, faireness, independence, judgement, morality, Objectivism, Philosophyphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

If you want to be considered a caring person, you are expected to offer a “no-judgement-zone.” And you are supposed to believe that it’s an insult to be called “judgmental.” It’s recommended that you live by the biblical advice “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” but can this actually guide us in our daily life and thinking? There are people who lie, cheat, steal, rape, murder and worse—and, clearly, they deserve to be morally condemned. On the other hand, there are honest, thoughtful, productive, and truly heroic people. To form a positive evaluation of them, some kind of moral judgement is needed. Join Elan Journo as he explores another one of life’s big questions: Should you judge other people?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:35 — 54.6MB)

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Do I Need a Philosophy? by Aaron Smith

December 4, 2019PodcastAyn Rand, epistemology, ethics, guidance, life, meaning of life, Objectivism, Philosophy, Podcast, principles, thinkingphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

Many people have at least heard of a few of history’s great philosophers. Names like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—they ring a bell and maybe some of us have even taken a philosophy course in college or perhaps encountered books or podcasts that are espousing or offering some kind of philosophy of life—a philosophy for living. But…

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What Makes Ayn Rand’s Philosophy Distinctive? by Onkar Ghate

November 6, 2019PodcastAtlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, controversy, hero, morality, Objectivism, Onkar Ghate, Philosophy, Podcast, religion, The Fountainheadphilosophy-for-living-on-earth

Have you ever wondered what Ayn Rand’s philosophy—which she called Objectivism—is all about? Why is she such a controversial figure with millions of fans who love The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged but also with many, many critics who call her books and ideas evil? Onkar Ghate, a senior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, discusses…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:38 — 57.4MB)

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