The Curious Task

Brandon Turner - What Is Conservatism?

Alex speaks with Brandon Turner about the nature of conservatism and whether or not it constitutes an ideology, the rate of change within conservative thought, and the relationship between conservatism and liberalism.

References

1. “Conservatism, Ideology, Skepticism” by Brandon Turner

Link: https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=jcli 

2. “The Conservative Sensibility” by George F. Will 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Conservative-Sensibility-George-F-Will/dp/0316480932 

3. “Conservatism: A Rediscovery” by Yoram Hazony 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Conservative-Rediscovery-Yoram-Hazony/dp/1684511097

Rachel Lomasky - Can A.I. Be Ethical?

Alex speaks with Rachel Lomasky about hot-button issues surrounding machine learning and artificial intelligence and the limitations and definitions of each, especially when it comes to ethical decision-making. 

Geoff Sigalet - What Is The Alberta Sovereignty Act?

Alex speaks with Geoff Sigalet about Western Alienation and the events that led to the Alberta Sovereignty Act becoming law in Canada in December of 2022. 

Russ Roberts — How Can Adam Smith Change Your Life?

As you think about your New Year's resolutions, take another listen to Alex's conversation from May 2020 with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can still change your life, even so many years later.  

References from The Curious Task Special Episode 14 with Russ Roberts 

• You can purchase Russ Roberts’ book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life at Amazon Canada here
• You can read the Theory of Moral Sentiments for free on the Online Library of Liberty here

2022 Holiday Wrap-up Episode

Alex, Sabine and Matt reflect on the year that was 2022.

Lauren Hall — What’s Wrong With Modern Healthcare?

In their conversation from December 2019, Alex Aragona talks with Lauren Hall as she explores the problems with modern healthcare systems and some of the possible remedies.

Matt Bufton - How Do We Feel About The Monarchy?

Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about Canada's unique approach to power, monarchy, and government and how happy accidents have led to one of the best-governed and most free countries on earth being ruled by a King - at least symbolically. 

Peter Jaworski - What Is The Ought-State Gap?

Alex speaks with frequent guest Peter Jaworski about the gap between a moral obligation and the expectation that some specific institution ought to be the one to realize that moral obligation - especially an institution like the state.

Christy Horpedahl - How Can Books Advance Liberal Society?

Sabine speaks with Christy Horpedahl about the entrepreneurial spirit that imbues Penelope Fitzgerald's "The Bookshop".

Alex Aragona - What Is Classical Liberalism (According To Our Host)?

Sabine speaks with the host of the Curious Task Alex Aragona to find out more about him, especially what he considers classical liberalism to be in its essence. 

Jayme Lemke - Who Was Elinor Ostrom?

Alex speaks with Jayme Lemke about the life, work, and legacy of American Nobel Prize-winning political economist Elinor Ostrom. 

References

1. “Elinor Ostrum and the Bloomington School: Building a New Approach to Policy and Social Sciences” by Jayme Lemke and Vlad Tarko

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Bloomington-School-Building/dp/0228004152 

2. Elinor Ostrum Publications 

Link: https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/library/bibliographies/ostrom-elinor.html 

3. Elinor Ostrum Fellowship, Mercatus Centre

Link: https://www.mercatus.org/students/elinor-ostrom-fellowship

Thomas Bunting - What Can Baseball Tell Us About Politics?

Alex speaks with Thomas Bunting about politics, democracy, social progress and more as they relate to baseball and athletics more broadly.

Edward Slingerland - How Has Alcohol Influenced Civilization?

Alex speaks with Edward Slingerland about the dance that most civilizations have done with alcohol and the delicate balance between worshipping its creative effects and fearing its dangerous consequences. 

Scott Scheall - Why Is Spontaneity Important For Liberalism?

Alex speaks with Scott Scheall about the importance of spontaneity for liberalism. 

Claudia Williamson - Does Culture Effect Economic Progress?

Alex speaks with Claudia Williamson about what economists mean by culture and how individualism and other elements of culture can effect the economic progress of nations, peoples and groups.

Rosemarie Fike - How Does Inequality Effect Women’s Wellbeing?

Sabine speaks with Rosemarie Fike about the relationship between women's rights and economic freedom and the disparities that persist in contemporary economies around the world.

John Wood Jr. - Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Sabine speaks with John Wood Jr. about political polarization in America and its effects on democracy, civil rights and activism today. 

Brent Orrell - How Can We Flourish At Work?

Sabine speaks with Brent Orrell about the current challenges facing the workforce and labour market in America and abroad today.

Rachel Davison Humphries - What Is Education For A Free Society?

Sabine speaks with Rachel Davison Humphries about various schools of thought in the study of education and how they may offer alternatives to learning more compatible with a free society.

Sarah Skwire - Can Literature Influence Liberalism?

Sabine speaks with Sarah Skwire about the role of liberalism in literature and ways in which all forms of literature can influence our ideas about markets, trust, and the value of others.