The Dan Norton Show

Altruism as a tool of exploitation in religion and history.

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 and Prometheus. Why do we get sat...

Self-interest and global warming; prisoner's dilemmas and game theory; free rider problems; volunteer armies and charities.

Universal basic income, government programs generally, and force.

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. How to assess practicality. Is practicality a purely relative issue? Or is it...

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 countere...

Kant and the categorical imperative.

Religion's anti-selfishness. Nietzsche's critique of Christianity.

A little about Ayn Rand's life and communism.

Ayn Rand and the motivation for The Selfishness Project. Distortion of Ayn Rand and the importance of reading Ayn Rand herself.

Senses of equality: equality of outcome/opportunity vs. equality before the law. Capitalism vs. communism.

American individualism vs. asian collectivism in families, education, business.

Religion preaches selflessness and altruism, but does it motivate people by appealing to selfishness?

Is it selfish to stay in America or go back to China? Are we missing a word?

Why is there a trend of deference among Chinese/Asian college students in their choice of major? Where does the trend of deference come from?

If doing what's best for oneself comes into conflict with what's best for the world, which interest would you serve--your own or that of the world? Questioning the way one was raised.

Is it selfish to go to school? Selfishness and altruism in choosing one’s major.

Part 1: An example of a selfish action and the meaning of “selfish.” Utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism. Building a shed for grandma. The nature of ethics: Is ethics only other-regarding? Where do our ideas of “the good” and “the bad” come from? Becoming more long-range. Blaring one’s music. What kind of society do we want to live in? Guilt. Swiping money. Relativizing ethics/morality to something...

Is creating art selfish? How to define “selfishness.” What’s the motive behind your action: To benefit yourself? Others? Both? Would you do something that you didn’t expect to benefit you? If so, why, and how much time would you spend on it? What makes something the right/moral/ethical thing to do? Are good and bad relative? How much emotional flatness will you tolerate? Is there even such a thing...

Selflessness/selfishness in relationships. Are we missing a word to describe actions that benefit oneself but that don’t hurt others? Asian selflessness in choosing a subject to major in in college.

One philosopher’s perspective on selfishness. The dictionary definition of “selfishness.” How to determine the right definition. Generic terms and subdivisions thereof (via adjectives). Selflessness. Judging selfishness/selflessness in the full context. Yoga, meditation, and selfishness. Senses of “self.” Using etymology (or word parts: “self” + “-ish”) to understand “selfish.” Stipulative/arbitra...

Does the concept of “self-interest” apply to nations as wholes rather than just individual people? If so, how? The public good. Individualism vs. collectivism (Plato/Hegel).

Is joining the military selfless?

Selfishness, being a lawyer, and doing harm. Objective justice and self-interest. Harmonious selfishness. “Eye for an eye,” self-interest, and punishment. Public funding, individual liberty, and selfishness.

The Chinese word for “selfish.” The Chinese attitude toward selfishness and the one-child policy. Staying in the U.S. vs. going back to China: Is one of those options selfish? Which would make you happiest—and would you choose that option? Are we missing a word? Can selfishness be a good thing? How should it be defined?