The Minefield

The Royal Commission into Aged Care and the ravages of COVID-19 within aged care facilities have thrown a spotlight on the adequacy, the ethics and the dignity of our ongoing care of the elderly. To what extent have entrenched patterns of ageist prejudice created the conditions within which certain forms of abuse and neglect could take place? And what can we do to challenge and change these prejudices?

Attachment to sporting clubs is one of our deepest and most emotionally charged forms of prejudice. But what about those moments when a fan decides she can no longer support her team? Has she betrayed her team? Alternatively, in what ways can clubs betray their fans?

The incommensurability of the claims in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict produces a kind of moral absolutism, whereby one side is entirely to blame and another is entirely justified. But are there moral resources that can be brought to bear which grant the legitimacy of the maximal claims of both sides, and then set about exploring the conditions of mutual recognition?

Rebecca Roselle Stone, an Associate Professor specializing in Simone Weil and moral philosophy, dives deep into the idea of moral fatigue. She explores how this fatigue can stem from both a sincere confrontation with the world's realities and a form of moral avoidance. The conversation covers the dangers of emotional exhaustion in the face of global injustices and the nuanced interplay of moral obligations in daily life. Through insights into language and personal reflection, Rebecca advocates for genuine rejuvenation to combat fatigue and foster resilience.

Brian Treanor, a philosophy professor and author, dives into the complexities of solitude amidst modern distractions. He explores the transformative power of being alone, emphasizing its moral virtues. The discussion navigates the balance between solitude and social life, referencing thinkers like Emerson and Thoreau. Treanor also reflects on solitude's role during lockdowns and its significance during Ramadan, highlighting the interplay between personal growth and community. Ultimately, he champions the need to embrace solitude for deeper self-awareness in today's digital age.

While fasting is an observance associated with Ramadan, versions the practice are broadly familiar to us — from the forms of “self-restraint” that are bound up with physical fitness, to advice commending the health benefits of a regular 14-hour fast. But are these forms of “self-care” just further preoccupations with “the self”, rendering us forgetful of the needs of the moral life?

In this thought-provoking discussion, Robin Farrell, an adjunct professor at the Australian National University and author of "Philosophical Essays on Free Stuff," dives into the complexities of knowledge in today’s world. They explore the challenge of discerning valuable information amidst a sea of distractions, emphasizing the need for attentiveness and genuine engagement. Farrell questions the moral responsibility of holding opinions on distant tragedies and highlights the commodification of knowledge in the digital age, urging listeners to practice epistemic humility and meaningful conversation.

With the proliferation of digital distractions and addictive technologies, many of us live in a state of perpetual half-attention. We tend to move from one “sugar-hit” to the next — stimuli which elicit strong if transitory emotions, but discourage us from being present, entirely, to one person, one text, one idea. What is the lack of attentiveness doing to our moral lives?

Will the experience of working-from-home make employees reluctant to resume the daily struggle with traffic or public transportation, or to put up with irritating co-workers and unproductive work environments? Or will we discover that we’ve missed something precious in being deprived of interactions with others?

It’s understandable that so much anger should be directed at the federal government, and that the federal government’s numerous missteps and failures to respond appropriately to what this moment demands have added insult to injury. But if the problem is culture-wide, can federal politics be the solution?