Should You Act Ethically Even If It Changes Nothing? | Tristram McPherson
In this episode, I sat down with philosopher Tristram McPherson to explore a question that haunts me: should we act morally when our individual actions feel insignificant? We unpack Singer’s argument for expected impact, challenge the limits of utilitarian thinking, and dive into the emotional core of real ethical dilemmas. From climate change to factory farming, we ask: are we complicit in systems we benefit from and if so, what can we do about it?
Tristram McPherson is a moral philosopher and Professor at The Ohio State University. His work bridges ethics, metaethics, and political philosophy, with a focus on the moral challenges of contemporary life.
More from Tristram McPherson:
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/drtrist...
Publications: https://sites.google.com/site/drtrist...
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⏳ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Crowley The Modern Demon
07:10 The “Drop in the Bucket” Problem
12:43 Can Tiny Actions Have Huge Consequences?
18:08 Morality by the Numbers: A Problem?
26:34 Can Consequences Make a Wrong Action Right?
34:20 Being Part Of A Group
36:31 What If You Didn’t Know It Was Wrong?
43:05 What About Necessary Harms?
53:10 How Much Can We Reasonably Be Expected to Do?
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