Contrary to common belief, philosophy is not a useless field for academics in an ivory tower, detached from reality. Approached rationally, its principles are the indispensable foundation and practical toolset for navigating the complexities of life on earth. In this series, we explore important philosophical issues, offering answers to life's big questions, and contemporary controversies, from the perspective of Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism.
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Contrary to common belief, philosophy is not a useless field for academics in an ivory tower, detached from reality. Approached rationally, its principles are the indispensable foundation and practical toolset for navigating the complexities of life on earth. In this series, we explore important philosophical issues, offering answers to life's big questions, and contemporary controversies, from the perspective of Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism.
What’s Wrong with “Virtue Signaling”? by Ben Bayer
Philosophy for Living On Earth
1 hour 55 seconds
5 years ago
What’s Wrong with “Virtue Signaling”? by Ben Bayer
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”?
Philosophy for Living On Earth
Contrary to common belief, philosophy is not a useless field for academics in an ivory tower, detached from reality. Approached rationally, its principles are the indispensable foundation and practical toolset for navigating the complexities of life on earth. In this series, we explore important philosophical issues, offering answers to life's big questions, and contemporary controversies, from the perspective of Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism.
