Is it selfless to return a lost wallet and selfish to keep (or ignore) it? “Paying it forward”—what does it mean and was I doing it by returning the wallet? Unintended consequences of good (or bad) actions. What makes an intention good? ( 30 min. )
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Coronavirus, higher education, lockdowns, and more: a chat with Prof. Bernard Molyneux – Episode 24
The coronavirus, the internet, and the future of higher education: Prof. Molyneux’s experience during the outbreak; will professors be laid off?; effects on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) vs. non-STEM disciplines; what about philosophy? The University of California graduate student strike. Student loan debt and debt forgiveness. (Starting at 0:46:46) The lockdowns: Do they […]
Are humans innately altruistic? Greek egoism and secularism (excerpt from Episode 23)
Greek egoism and secularism as a counterexample to the idea that humans are innately altruistic. ( 6 min. )
Altruism as a tool of exploitation (excerpt from Episode 23)
Altruism as a tool of exploitation in religion and history. ( 7 min. )
Altruism, egoism, etc.: a discussion with a student – Episode 23
The relation of egoism and altruism, and their meanings. Preachers of altruism. Altruism as a tool of exploitation, in history and religion. Do preachers of altruism themselves believe in altruism? Is there an innate tendency to accept altruism? Greek culture as egoistic and relatively secular; Homer, Aristotle, and Plato. Are the Greek heroes altruistic? Achilles […]
Self-interest, global warming, & solving problems together (excerpt from Episode 12)
Self-interest and global warming; prisoner’s dilemmas and game theory; free rider problems; volunteer armies and charities. ( 8 min. )
Universal basic income and government programs (excerpt from The Selfishness Project #12)
Universal basic income, government programs generally, and force. ( 3 min. )
A conversation with Prof. Jason Thibodeau – Episode 22
The coronavirus outbreak: How Jesus or Mother Teresa would act vs. how most people do act. Are we obligated to do what is ideal? Should unrealistic ideals be ideals? Ought implies can. Giving lip service to selflessness as an ideal without really believing it: a tension in many people’s view. The moral and the practical. […]
Selfishness and Indian philosophy – Episode 21
Is Indian philosophy anti-selfishness? Aamir’s view of selfishness and Ayn Rand. Indian philosophy/religion versus personal desires and material possessions, and Aamir’s view of this. Buddha, Lord Krishna, and Lord Rama. Parallels to, and differences with, Christianity. The “middle path” vs. asceticism. Aamir’s view of the ego. Jesus and Mother Teresa. Psychological egoism, and a possible […]
Kant and the categorical imperative (excerpt from Episode 12)
Kant and the categorical imperative. ( 2 min. )