Topic: Art and Culture

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Crisis

The Lockdowns Are Killing the Arts

– July 14, 2020

“Governments declared arts to be nonessential, dispensable, abolishable. It’s the biggest attack on art and beauty possibly since the iconoclasm of the 16th century, when mobs sacked churches, tore out paintings, and melted candlesticks in bonfires. Back then the motivation was to purify the world of sin. Now we think we are purifying the world of disease.” ~ Jeffrey A. Tucker

Art and Culture, History, Policy

What the Data Say About Civil War Monuments

– June 23, 2020

“The course in public memorialization of anti-slavery figures and events is at long last moving in a positive direction. It can and should be sustained, provided that the mob, now haphazardly targeting almost any form of public statuary, does not make those same monuments into additional casualties of iconoclasm.” ~ Phillip W. Magness

Art and Culture, Books, Free Markets

The Inestimable Wisdom of Deirdre McCloskey

– June 23, 2020

“Breaking down barriers not only institutionally but socially, allowing more and more people to strive for their potential is what started the engine of comprehensive economic growth. Economic and social freedom that rests not only in regulatory codes but in the hearts of men.” ~ Ethan Yang

Art and Culture, Crisis, Government, History

The Meaning and the Mind of an American

– June 22, 2020

“America’s hope has been for the color-blind society, and in spite of everything has been moving closer to it, in numerous facets of everyday life. Its path is being blocked not by anything inherent wrong in its founding principles. Its way is threatened by those whose view of man is based on collectivist identifiers,.” ~ Richard Ebeling

Art and Culture, Free Markets

It’s Not Regulation that Keeps Your Food Safe

– June 22, 2020

“Enjoy — in moderation. The strangers are looking out for you, and they are all too happy to do so. Why? Because by looking out for you, they are better equipped to look out for the non-strangers in their lives.” ~ Art Carden

Art and Culture, Books, Education

A Graduate Student’s Review of Jason Brennan’s Good Work if You Can Get It: How to Succeed in Academia

– June 21, 2020

“This book is also a beneficial read for newly minted PhD candidates to aid in their productivity skills and advisors of graduate students to learn how to best mentor, guide, and be a valuable resource to their advisees. As a current doctoral student, I recommend this book wholeheartedly.” ~ Justin T. Callais

Art and Culture, Capitalism, Economic Education

Managing the Chessboard of Human Society: Lessons from the Online Chessboard

– June 19, 2020

” It seems reasonable that we will never actually master every possible detail of chess, Monopoly, and other games. If games that happen within very well-defined spaces according to very well-defined rules present such insurmountable difficulties, I’m definitely skeptical of the notion that we can design and control a great society.” ~ Art Carden

Art and Culture, Books, Free Markets

Are Humans Naturally Nice?

– June 17, 2020

“Drawing superficially on many different fields with narrative case-studies to illustrate a major point keeps the story refreshing – but risks becoming detached, unconvincing and plainly wrong.” ~ Joakim Book

Art and Culture, Economic History, Education, History

Thomas Sowell at 90: Understanding Race Relations Around the World

– June 16, 2020

“Now, at the age of 90, Thomas Sowell continues to offer us understanding and insight into the attitudes and institutions that can bring all people greater peace and prosperity, as well as human liberty.” ~ Richard Ebeling

Art and Culture, Crisis, Economic Theory, Policy

The Desperate Loneliness of Social Media

– June 15, 2020

“Other-directed voters go on social media to try to figure out which politicians and policy proposals will earn them the most plaudits from assorted avatars and social influencers. They value fitting in over logic or consistency and many seem genuinely puzzled when the inconsistencies in their expressed opinions are pointed out to them.” ~ Robert Wright

Art and Culture, Books, Economic Education

The Trust Revolution

– June 14, 2020

“By and large, Henderson and Churi are correct: developing microregulatory technology is part of a “trust revolution,” and one that promises to change and direct the 21st century economy and beyond.” ~ Art Carden

Art and Culture, Free Markets

The Market Loves You–And Your Little Dog, Too

– June 13, 2020

“It seems pretty clear from our experience getting a dog that the market doesn’t just love us–it loves our dog, too.” ~ Art Carden