Topic: Philosophy

Authoritarianism, Books, Classical Liberalism, Philosophy

Can We Pass Adam Smith’s Finger Test?

– November 11, 2023

“We have allowed our institutions to be hijacked by illiberal authoritarians posing as humanists. Should it surprise us that morality is in short supply?” ~Barry Brownstein

Classical Liberalism, Education, Philosophy, Podcast

Liberty Curious Podcast: Decolonization from Theory to Practice

– October 30, 2023

“The critical theory outlook says ‘No we don’t really have so much room for alternative viewpoints,” and they consider everything that’s associated with free markets and liberal capitalism as the enemy to be driven out of the academy.” ~Phillip W. Magness

Economic Education, Education, Philosophy

Emoting Is Easier (and More Fun) Than Is Thinking Dispassionately

– October 29, 2023

“The mindset that recognizes the ubiquity of trade-offs tempers any proclivity its owners might have toward justifying their policy stances with enormous heapings of emotions.” ~Donald J. Boudreaux

Classical Liberalism, History, Philosophy, Podcast

Liberalism: What Does It Even MEAN? Political Scientist Explains

– October 20, 2023

“Progressives and conservatives are both convinced that their morality and vision for society is correct, and have no qualms about using the power of the state to impose it upon the rest of us.” ~Michael Munger

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Classical Liberalism, Philosophy

To Live for Grievances Risks Liberty

– October 19, 2023

“How many minor and major irritations and grievances occupy your thinking throughout the day? What do we sacrifice when our attention is centered on grievances?” ~Barry Brownstein

Art and Culture, Classical Liberalism, History, Philosophy

A “Flame of Fire” for Every Age: James Otis and the Writs of Assistance

– October 8, 2023

“Otis asserted that every man, merely natural, was an independent sovereign, subject to no law, but the law written on his heart, and revealed to him by his Maker in the constitution of his nature and the inspiration of his understanding and his conscience.”

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, History, Philosophy

Are We Choosing “Living Truth” or “Dead Dogma”?

– October 6, 2023

“While the ranks of illiberal censors grow daily, John Stuart Mill’s impeccable logic reaches across time to refute arguments censors use to justify their authoritarian actions.” ~Barry Brownstein

Classical Liberalism, Philosophy, Podcast

What Are The Best Arguments for Liberty?

– October 6, 2023

“Kate asked Bruce to come back and go through some of your comments together. To begin, they examined how we might differentiate moral philosophy from individual rights and the law.”

Art and Culture, Classical Liberalism, Philosophy

The Rules of Liberal Civilization Are Really Quite Simple

– October 5, 2023

“First learned in childhood, these rules remain relevant and important throughout our lives. And these rules’ relevance and importance don’t disappear, or even diminish, simply because today’s majority finds it convenient to cast one or more of them aside.” ~Donald J. Boudreaux

Books, Economic History, Education, Philosophy

Adam Smith’s Great Power Politics in One Paragraph

– October 1, 2023

“It is said that an armed society is a polite society. Smith, by analogy, suggests that an international cosmos of armed nations will be a polite international cosmos.” ~Daniel B. Klein

Authoritarianism, Books, Philosophy, Science

A Noted Physician Advocates COVID Civil Disobedience

– September 22, 2023

“Even without cronyism showing the way, ineffective and dangerous drugs are not uncommon in the annals of medicine.” ~Barry Brownstein

Books, Economic History, History, Philosophy

Nothing Was “Normal” on the Other Side of the Wall

– September 19, 2023

“Nothing was ‘normal’ about the totalitarian life in socialist GDR, if by ‘normal’ we mean pursuit of human happiness and fulfilment.” ~Robertas Bakula and Luis Carlos Araujo Quintero