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Episode 020 - July 07, 2008



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00:54: To what degree should a men let the woman he is romantically interested in know of his interest?

04:10: What is the rational basis for the laws against compelling a person to incriminate himself?

06:38: Does the usage of the phrase, "drink the kool-aid," trivialize mass suicide?

07:42: Is there a proper government role in regard to a minor marrying, even assuming the parents consent?

10:50: How far does the right of self-defense go?

13:54: From time to time I reach a point where I can‚'t take the state of the world anymore. I listen to your tapes and feel better. What do you listen to? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 019 - June 30, 2008



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00:54: Would it be morally acceptable, according to Objectivism, to purchase stock in tobacco companies?

03:38: Does divorce traumatize and scar children to the extent to being a valid argument against divorce?

06:12: How can existence have primacy over consciousness if existence is everything that exists and therefore includes consciousness?

08:14: What is the definition of "Objectivist" as a noun referring to a person?

12:08: Does Objectivism say anything about the immortality of the soul?

14:30: What are your recommended translations of Homer‚'s Iliad and Sophocles‚' Antigone? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 018 - June 16, 2008



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01:12: A discussion about the military and how it‚'s currently being run.

05:18: What did Ayn Rand mean when she used the term "heroic being" in describing her concept of man?

08:28: How can Objectivists claim to know that there is no afterlife?

11:46: Is the ability as a human being to think in abstract principles the single most powerful attribute one could ever possess?

13:04: Did Ayn Rand ever comment on or use any psychotropic substances such as marijuana or LSD?

15:26: What would Ayn Rand say about immigration for Mexicans? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 017 - June 02, 2008



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00:54: What do you think about treason?

04:08: [Follow-up question on treason in relation to war.]

05:42: When if ever is it moral for a government to torture its enemy?

07:24: If it is moral to use torture at all, how could you limit the government to only using this power in an emergency situation?

09:10: What would you recommend as the best way for a post-college man to retrain himself to a conceptual, principled way of thinking?

09:58: How would an Objectivist justify pursuing a career as a soldier, police officer, etc.?

10:54: Did Ayn Rand ever regret using the kind of provocative tone that may have made it harder for some people to warm up to her philosophy?

13:16: Isn't reproduction a source of values in its own right just as your individual life?

15:00: If two people are engaged in physical activity such as sex, and one person has a heart attack during the activity, is the healthy person violating the injured person‚'s rights by not seeking help for the injured person? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 016 - May 26, 2008



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00:54: If five people are in an emergency room dying, and one healthy person in the waiting room could save them all if we used his organs, is it morally permissible to do this even though he‚'ll die?

04:06: Is Ayn Rand‚'s love for the music of composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff, in any way diminished or compromised by virtue of insecurities he harbored over his music? [Esthetics]

06:40: If a person holds the right standard of self-esteem is it still possible to feel a lack of self-esteem as a result of psychological or psycho-epistemological thinking problems?

08:40: [Nadia Comaneci and Tom Brady]

10:40: Do you see any philosophical reason why artificial intelligence must be impossible, or is it purely a technical question?

12:38: Did determinism hold true on this planet until humans obtained their volitional capacity? [Animals and Free Will] Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 015 - May 19, 2008



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00:54: What is the root cause of the business practice of mediocrity?

04:32: Should an Objectivist pursue a serious romantic relationship with a Christian?

09:52: If each parent holds the right to raise their child as they see fit, who‚'s rights prevail when the two parents of the child disagree?

13:06: To what extent can an individual voluntarily relinquish his rights?

14:48: [Followup question: How would you evaluate mixed martial arts?]

15:50: [Dr. Peikoff continues: You might say, "Well, is suicide then wrong because you're voluntarily relinquishing your rights?]

16:20: Is there a difference between the principle of self-ownership and the principle of individual rights? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 014 - May 05, 2008



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00:54: Is it immoral for a single, professional soldier to seek sex as a release for momentary pleasure considering that long-range relationship isn't possible and early death is possible? [Dr. Peikoff comments about sex in emergency contexts such as in the bomb shelters in London during WWII.]

04:30: Can a gay person be a true Objectivist? [Homosexuality and Choice]

08:22: How does Objectivism accommodate the human desire for transcendence?

10:18: What is the basis for the rights of children, and how do these rights follow from an ethics of egoism?

12:34: Is it a crime for a parent not to care for her child?

14:00: Do you enjoy the works of author Frederic Brown? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 013 - April 21, 2008



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One on one conversation with Kevin Delaney.

00:54: What is the purpose of philosophy?

02:10: Is part of the purpose of philosophy or the study of philosophy to make you a deeper thinker?

02:52: How would you characterize a philosophically minded person?

04:06: Is a study of at least the fundamentals of philosophy necessary for everybody?

05:42: Is there any particular level of intelligence required in order to understand Objectivism?

07:20: Can a person be properly called an Objectivist if he agrees with the philosophy but fails to apply to his life?

08:46: What if anything does a person owe his parents?

10:36: In Galt‚'s speech, why did Miss Rand choose to write, "higher than reality," vs. "lower than reality"?

12:54: Can it ever be appropriate for a human being to feel emotions of love or compassion toward an animal? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 012 - April 07, 2008



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00:54: How would an Objectivist look at pursuing a job slightly less fulfilling but with higher monetary reward? Would that be a sacrifice of values or just the recognition that one requires money to lead a decent life?

05:24: [What is the point of the work ethics anymore? Is it really advisable to be ambitious anymore?]

07:48: [induction by simple enumeration vs. Mill's method of agreement and difference.]

12:36: [Ethical correctness of concierge medicine.] Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 011 - March 24, 2008



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00:54: Does a John Galt exists in the real world?

02:40: How is Objectivism not considered hedonistic when happiness is just a state of emotional pleasure?

04:46: A response to Bill Gates recent statement about capitalism: "A kinder, gentler capitalism."

05:54: To what extent is there such a thing as a fully evil genius, someone who‚'s fully committed to using his mind for evil?

08:02: [in relation to the previous response, what about Kant?]

09:28: What is art to an intellectual but non-academic person who doesn't have values that he needs to see concretized in reality?

13:10: [is sense of life forming from the moment of birth, and can it be changed as an adult? Where would you begin?]

15:30: [Moral but miserable.] Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 010 - March 10, 2008



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Group discussion at the Ayn Rand Institute in California

02:04: How would you reply to someone who grants that the economy should be free and individual rights absolute, but doubts whether men of flesh, blood, cunning, and force could ever practically create and sustain such a system?

05:14: What is existence?

07:00: Do great works of art, such as those of Homer, Hugo or Atlas Shrugged, tend to inspire philosophical movements or is it the reverse?

09:46: Why is Ayn Rand not taken seriously in many modern intellectual circles?

11:54: [How would you account though for the growing respect that she is getting among some philosophers and some scholars like Dr. Tara Smith, the increased interest in the ideas and the respect they are getting?]

14:00: Do you think that the surrender of property to the socialist government with no recourse to the court is better than having to tolerate religious babble of politicians that will not translate into law or hold up when finally put to trial in court? [Democrats and Republicans.] Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 009 - February 25, 2008



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Group discussion at the Ayn Rand Institute in California

01:26: My parents don‚'t know that I am an athiest. Am I being hypocritical if I pray at the dinner table and go to church so that they don‚'t know?

05:18: I have the idea in my mind that as one grows old they become super weak, fragile, sick and depressing. How do you do it? Give me details.

07:24: What is the difference between love and rational sex?

11:44: Is there a difference between embracing and integrating Objectivist ideas or concepts and getting rid of the pragmatic way of looking?concepts and getting rid of the pragmatic way of looking?' Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 008 - January 28, 2008



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Group discussion at the Ayn Rand Institute in California

01:12: A discussion of the Objectivist view of the primacy of existence. [Metaphysics]

04:52: Who is the musician that you play at the beginning of your podcasts?

06:40: Can music be classified as Objectivist music?

10:22: A discussion of Ayn Rand‚'s definition of plot.

12:48: Is it better to put creative work aside when one is confronting a serious emotional upheaval? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 007 - January 22, 2008



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Group discussion at the Ayn Rand Institute in California

01:10: How can Objectivism be objective when it says the primary purpose of any man‚'s life is productive work? What about Mother Teresa? [Primary purpose of life.]

04:52: Is it a moral crime to purchase the work of artists who oppose your core values?

08:12: [What is the distinction between the previous response and pragmatism.]

10:12: What is the difference between "hate" and "despise," and when is it proper to experience either?

12:14: What is Objectivism‚'s view on road ownership and mandatory auto insurance?

14:26: When you refer to a dictionary for word definitions, which published edition of a dictionary do you rely on? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 006 - January 07, 2008



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Group discussion at the Ayn Rand Institute in california

01:22: I am a student. If I become a fiction writer, won‚'t I have to surrender the possibility of ever being number one in my field?

04:04: Is a non-interventionist, isolationist foreign policy the rational solution to America‚'s problem with the Middle-East and Islamic fundamentalism?

07:32: Is it possible for a person to act in the absence of any emotional impetus to take that action? [Role of Emotions.]

08:54: What is your opinion of Objectivist clubs and advocacy groups on the internet?

13:24: [Yaron Brook gives his views on the above question.] Edited by Forum Publisher
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This is an index to Dr. Peikoff's podcasts, available on his website as well as on iTunes.

This is an unofficial index, compiled by fans, not by professional editors. Any such index probably contains mistakes. In Episode 62 -- May 18, 2009 (about midway), Dr. Peikoff actually discussed the problems inherent in compiling an index like this one. Dr. Peikoff has not seen this index; please consider this a "fan index", with all the problems with misinterpretation that come with that.

Much of this index contains the questions that other people (not necessarily Objectivists) have asked. Thus, a question -- as framed -- may misrepresent Rand or Objectivism by the assumptions implied in the way it is framed. Only listening to the actual recording will provide the full context and Dr. Peikoff's reply. Use at your own risk.

Nevertheless, hopefully -- E&OE -- this index will be helpful in searching for references.

To view the entire topic as a single web-page, click "Options" and then"Print this page". Once done, the browsers "Find in page" should suffice for most searches.

This topic is locked, as it is only meant to act as an index. To discuss any specific question and answer, search for an existing topic on the subject; if none exists, start a new one. The same for any inaccuracies found in the index. Start a thread, and we can use it for any further comments about the index itself.

I'd like to thank member Trebor for the work he has put into making this index, and for sharing this on the forum.

Update - 11/14/09

I would like to thank JASKN for taking over the responsibility of updating the index a few months ago. Since then, he has been in communication with Dr. Peikoff concerning this index, and Dr. Peikoff recently decided, without full endorsement, to link directly to this index from his own site:

"November 11, 2009

I learned recently that an index of all my podcasts, transcribing the questions taken up in each (but not the answers), has been published on another website. Having scanned only a few samples, I do not know the quality of the rest; but the samples I saw were accurate and complete. On this basis, I have decided to offer the link for interested listeners:

http://forum.ObjectivismOnline.com/index.php?showtopic=17019

I want to express my appreciation to the individuals involved in writing and publishing this index. I must, however, add that I do not know these individuals or the contents of their website, so please judge for yourself in this regard.

Leonard Peikoff"

Belatedly, I'd like to thank softwareNerd for his great help in the process of creating this index.

If anyone viewing this index identifies any errors that are in need of correction, please notify JASKN or softwareNerd, or one of the forum moderators.

Trebor

To visitors who came here by clicking on the link hosted on Dr. Peikoff's site:

First, welcome to OO.net. We hope this index is helpful to you. If you aren't familiar with our site, we hope you'll take the time to look around.

Do remember that this is a forum where one will read all sorts of views, many of them completely anti-Objectivist. So, what you read on the forum does not come with even the slightest recommendation from Dr. P. Indeed, most folks who post here don't agree with lots of things that other post here. Caveat emptor: this is the big bad world of the internet! Enjoy!!

- softwareNerd

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Episode 071 - July 20, 2009



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00:44: Is there anything I can do to speed the transfer of the Objectivist works into the eReader format, such as the Kindle of Amazon?

01:40: Is religion more dangerous in America than socialism or collectivism?

06:00: [Part of the response to the above question: When is Dr. Peikoff's book, DIM Hypothesis, coming out?]

06:36: I was given a graduation gift to travel to Europe or take the money and put it in the bank. What should I do?

08:44: [Context, Objectivism and Independence.]

10:34: Do you see any ideological antecedent to multiculturalism? [Kant. Marxism and Fascism. Jesus and Christianity.]

12:52: Is collecting discarded property the desire to gain something for nothing, and therefore morally shameful? [Rationalism] Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 072 - July 27, 2009



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00:44: Is Greek literature deterministic?

08:12: As a landlord, is it better to choose a renter who can pay more than the asking price with government subsidized housing, or a renter who offers $100 less than the asking price?

11:34: If a license from the government is required to watch TV, should I pay and thereby aid the government, or is it too much of a sacrifice? [Question from Britain]

13:10: If citizens do not rebel against a dictatorship, who will bring an end to the dictatorship?

15:00: Who bears responsibility for a dictator‚'s actions?

15:26: If evidence is found showing that social welfare is cheaper than the cost of crime resulting from its absence, is welfare still immoral? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 073 - August 03, 2009



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00:44: How do I stay happy in a miserable world?

07:12: It is professionally advantageous for me to take GM as a client, but I feel some guilt about being an instrument for mooching from the taxpayer. What should I do?

09:08: Is it proper to teach young children to believe in Santa?

11:02: Are you contradicting Ayn Rand when you state that the validity of the senses is an axiom and it is a corollary of consciousness? Ayn Rand states that identity is a corollary of existence.

14:26: Should Objectivists phrases be invented for already useful expressions like "Beg, borrow, or steal"? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 074 - August 10, 2009



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00:44: Why does it take months to deliver a podcast? Would you explain the process to listeners?

04:24: Does the UN do more harm than good for the interest of the United States?

08:52: Where do you place Obama on the ‚"DIM‚' scale?

09:12: If we advocate a return to principles, aren't we also saying that it would be better for politicians to live by principles, and that is what Objectivists are opposed to, their principles?

11:38: Would Ayn Rand have called her philosophy "Existentialism" if the term had not already been appropriated by other philosophies?

12:50: Can you properly call Objectivism a philosophy of individual[ism]?

13:14: Are animal cruelty laws objectively sound? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 075 - August 17, 2009



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00:44: Why are people irrational? What benefit comes from being irrational? [Question from a fourteen year old boy.]

08:28: Is it rational to want to conquer fear?

11:58: If reality is existence as correctly perceived by man, can we say that truth is the recognition of the facts of existence as correctly perceived by man? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 076 - August 24, 2009



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00:44: In a recent podcast you mention that after the publication of your book you are leaving the field of philosophy. Are you retiring or entering a new field?

01:40: Do you approve of the intellectual battle waged by Jim Valliant and Diana Shaw?

02:20: Ayn Rand defines happiness as a state of non-contradictory joy, but Objectivism is the only non-contradictory philosophic system, so are Objectivists the only humans in the entire history of man who are capable of happiness?

05:36: In We The Living, is Andrei working to get Leo released as an act of altruism?

07:32: [The following four questions are about living in today's world.]

07:48: Is it rational to remain living in the United States given what is going on?

09:26: How do you stay strong in an environment such as a liberal university?

11:38: I‚'m disillusioned with mankind. Why aren't you?

14:04: Will the economy get so bad that first world countries will make drastic changes?

15:44: What does it mean for something to be an "end in itself" like "man‚'s life"? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 077 - August 31, 2009



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00:44: A discussion on a healthcare and totalitarianism quote from an official White House site.

07:00: Is it only a matter of time before governments regulate the Internet?

08:12: Should professional societies, like the AMA, exist?

11:40: If an individual was once hostile and harmful to Objectivism, but has since changed his opinion, should he now be accepted by Objectivism as a friend and ally? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 078 - September 07, 2009



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00:44: What is the Objectivist view of Confucianism?

04:20: If love is the response of the values you hold and see in another one, why then didn't you, fall in love with Ayn Rand? And why did Ayn Rand fall in love with Frank O'Connor?

09:32: You validate the three axioms of philosophy in the following order: existence, consciousness, identity. Can you explain why you chose to use this order?

13:04: Why does Ayn Rand refer to Howard Roark as a religious man and have him build a temple?

14:08: Wikipedia says that you are from Winnipeg, Canada. Is that true?

14:30: Do Objectivist ethics allow the healthcare professional to refuse to dispense contraceptives? Edited by Forum Publisher
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Episode 079 - September 14, 2009



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00:44: What is the meaning of sarcasm?

02:20: Was Kant a nihilist because he made duty an end in itself?

02:54: If the proper function of a government is to secure the individual rights of its citizens, what would be the proper response of a government when the property of its citizens is expropriated or nationalized by a foreign government?

06:47: What was Ayn Rand‚'s favorite musical composition?

09:45: Is it true to say that Objectivists generally are happier and will live longer than other people because they hold rational values and life as the standard? Edited by Forum Publisher
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