The Ethics of Swearing | Rebecca Roache [with Travis Timmerman]

Brain in a Vat

Why do we find swearing offensive, and should we? Is it wrong to use swear words despite causing offense?

This episode is an eye-opener into the often overlooked depth and implications of everyday profanity.

Listen to Rebecca’s podcast here: https://www.academicimperfectionist.com/podcast

[00:00] Introduction and Guest Introduction

[00:19] Rebecca's Journey into Swearing

[00:43] The Infamous Paper Incident

[02:46] Philosophical Musings on Censorship

[05:27] The Function of Swear Words

[06:04] Cultural Reactions to Swearing

[10:25] The Role of Context in Offense

[20:26] Borderline Swear Words and Slurs

[22:05] The Power of Offensive Words

[29:38] Debating the Use of Offensive Words

[32:05] Personal Experience with Slurs

[33:33] Slurs vs. Swear Words: Key Differences

[36:55] The Use-Mention Distinction

[41:52] Legal and Moral Implications of Offensive Language

[44:31] The Versatility of Swear Words

[52:10] Swearing and Intelligence: Is There a Link?

[55:25] The Value and Impact of Swearing

[01:02:51] Comedy, Dignity, and Swearing

[01:04:12] Conclusion and Final Thoughts