Just Questions

Artificial intelligence is now everywhere. And with the ease of AI and the difficulties of human relationships, a growing population is forgoing human relationships to instead develop relationships with AI. What’s going on here, philosophically: Are these relationships legitimate? Is the love mutual? Can it ever be?Today’s episode, we consider the second half of these relationships—can humans love AI? Along the way, we talk about:* Degrees of love* To what degree we can love AI* The impacts of choosing an AI relationship over a human oneHere’s Part 1.Sources:Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Robot Sex: Social and Ethical ImplicationsSymposium, by PlatoLoveLove and Sex with Robots: The Evolution of Human-Robot Relationships – A Provocative Study of AI, Companionship, and DesireClimbing towards NLU: On Meaning, Form, and Understanding in the Age of DataWhy people are falling in love with A.I. companions | 60 Minutes Australia This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

In today’s hustle culture, taking a break can feel like a guilty pleasure. But leisure has its own valuable role to play in our mental and physical health. That’s why today, we’re talking about why leisure matters just as much as (and maybe a bit more than!) work.Today’s episode, we consider:* The benefits of work and leisure* Theories on why work is overvalued and leisure undervalued* What “good” leisure looks likeTake a break and give it a listen!Sources:Employment is a critical mental health intervention - PMCAssociation of Returning to Work With Better Health in Working-Aged Adults: A Systematic ReviewEvidence-based supported employment for people with severe mental illness: Past, current, and future researchHow leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of actionIn Praise of Idleness, by Bertrand RussellPaul Lafargue: The Right To Be Lazy (1883)Philosophers on Laziness | Issue 154 | Philosophy NowOn Moral Duties (De Officiis) | Online Library of LibertyNicomachean Ethics Aristotle Batoche BooksAristotle on Work vs. Leisure « The Noble Leisure Project This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Cosmetic surgery is all around us, but is the “choice” to get cosmetic surgery ever really a choice? Sources:Ethical Issues in Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryInformed Consent | AMA-CodeMedical Ethics in Plastic Surgery: A Mini Review - PMCPersuasive advertising, autonomy, and the creation of desireThe Ethics and Responsibilities of Social Media Usage by Plastic Surgeons: A Literature Review | Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryTHE FOUR PRINCIPLES APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE ETHICSPaternalism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Five Faces of OppressionInformed Consent and Genetic InformationWOMEN AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: The Capabilities Approach This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Donating extra food to food banks is commonly regarded as a solution to food waste, but is it that simple? And, is it ethical?Sources:Towards a circular economy in food consumption: Food waste reduction practices as ethical work - Taru Lehtokunnas, Malla Mattila, Elina Närvänen, Nina Mesiranta, 2022The Circular Economy | Definition & Model Explained | Ellen MacArthur FoundationWasted Food Scale | US EPAHow food banks prevented 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions last yearSome issues in the ethics of food wasteFood Waste, Food Insecurity, and the Circular Economy | Columbia University School of Professional Studies​​The experiences and perceptions of food banks amongst users in high-income countries: An international scoping review - ScienceDirect This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

For today’s bonus episode, we’re going to talk about all that’s been going on with gerrymandering. We’ll examine how the fiery debate on California’s new gerrymandering bill is ultimately philosophical in nature, look at reasons for why gerrymandering is bad, and debate circumstances where the practice could be justified.Sources:Full article: Fighting fire with fire: the ethics of retaliatory gerrymanderingRedistricting war between Texas and California is about to jolt the midterms - POLITICOTexas GOP passes the House gerrymander Trump asked for - POLITICOCalifornia’s governor signed a redistricting plan. What happens next?California Republicans sue over redistricting, allege constitutional violationsNewsom signs off on redistricting plan for California in retaliation to Republicans' plan in Texas'Fight fire with fire': Newsom unveils California redistricting effortRepublicans sue over California redistricting as Newsom mocks Trump with Patriot Shop This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

FOMO, or fear of missing out, pervades modern life. But does constantly creating, experiencing, and doing actually create a fulfilled life? In this episode, we look at all the ways missing out can actually be the best thing we can do for ourselves. Timestamps:Seneca – 3:29Berlin – 9:49Agamben – 15:37Sources:“On the Shortness of Life”Seneca, On the Shortness of LifeIsaiah Berlin (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)Isaiah Berlin, “TWO CONCEPTS OF LIBERTY,” Four Essays On Liberty, (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1969)Bartleby, The ScrivenerGiorgio Agamben - Bartleby, or On Contingency This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Traveling is informative, relaxing, and fun. But there’s a dark side to the tourism industry, that’s rife with opportunities for abuse – how can we then make sure to be good tourists? In this episode, we examine what moral responsibilities people have while traveling, and we question what role businesses should play in tourism ethics.Timestamps:Henry Shue — 3:14Holmes Rolston III — 15:42David Fennell — 23:20Milton Friedman — 25:56Sources:Who drank all the matcha? How tourism drained a Japanese townHawaii's Governor Asks Tourists To Stay Away Because Of COVIDHawaii's 'overtourism' becomes growing debate as West Maui reopens for visitors - ABC NewsHenry Shue on the Dahrendorf Symposium 2013Basic Rights by Henry ShueThe Father of Environmental Ethics | 225 Years | University of PittsburghRolston Interviewrolston-holmes-iii-environmental-ethics.pdfTourism EthicsMilton Friedman on DonahueThe Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

What does it mean to watch real-life suffering for entertainment? In this episode, we examine the ethics of true crime to determine when true crime is justice, and when it veers into voyeurism.Timestamps:Nussbaum — 6:25Catharsis — 13:00Sontag — 17:26Sources:The True Crime Consumer Report by Edison Research and audiochuckJonBenet Ramsey's dad hopes for answers as new documentary puts pressure to solve 1996 murderPoetic justice : the literary imagination and public life : Nussbaum, Martha C. (Martha Craven), 1947- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveMonster: Jeffrey Dahmer: Did TV go too far in 2022?​​The Poetics of Aristotle, by AristotleREGARDING THE PAIN OF OTHERS Susan SontagKaren Read jury remains at 16 people, selection to continue for 10th day This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

From doctors to lawyers, nearly every profession has an ethical code—but what about influencers? This week, we look at the philosophical literature out there on influencers to see if there’s any limit to what an influencer can post. Along the way, we’ll build the beginnings of an ethical code for influencers, and we’ll get a better idea of who we want to follow — and even how we want to lead — on social media.Timestamps:Other Professions — 3:18Authenticity — 7:48Social Good — 11:16Sources:I Became the Most HATED Body Positivity Influencer – My Side of the StoryYouTube punishes Logan Paul over Japan suicide video The Ethics of Influencer Marketing: Authenticity and DisclosureThe Ethical Tightrope: Navigating Authenticity in Influencer Marketing - Life360Constructing Authenticity: Social Media Influencers and the Shaping of Online IdentityResearch Perspectives on Social Media Influencers and their FollowersNew Directions in the Ethics and Politics of SpeechFamine, Affluence, and Morality This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

As self-driving cars take over our roadways, a pressing question still remains: when a crash is unavoidable, who should they protect? In this episode, we’ll navigate the toughest ethical dilemmas autonomous vehicles face in life-or-death scenarios, exploring the leading philosophical theories on how these cars should be programmed to react. Timestamps:Minimizing harm — 4:22Protecting the passenger — 7:13Protecting the public — 9:04Consent — 10:58Equality — 12:30Risk — 14:50Sources:Men harass woman taking driverless Waymo car in San FranciscoWhy Ethics Matters for Autonomous CarsThe ethics of crashes with self‐driving cars: A roadmap, IWhy Everyone Has It Wrong About the Ethics of Autonomous VehiclesAutonomous Driving Ethics: from Trolley Problem to Ethics of Risk This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com

Is mercy a sign of strength or weakness? Of justice or injustice? Today’s episode tackles what mercy is and when we should show it. We’ll explore views from Seneca the Younger, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Jeffrie Murphy to examine whether mercy is a virtue or a vice.Timestamps:Seneca — 3:47Nietzsche — 10:44Murphy — 16:14Sources:Special counsel slams Biden for pardoning son Hunter BidenBiden faces backlash for granting pardon to son HunterSen. Graham: Trump’s pardons for violent Jan. 6 rioters ‘was a mistake’Concern, criticism grows over pardon of Jan. 6 defendantsOverview of Pardon PowerThe History of the Pardon PowerOn MercySeneca Biography and FactsOn the Genealogy of MoralityMercy and Legal Justice This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justquestionspod.substack.com