The Curious Task

Deirdre McCloskey - Why Does Liberalism Work?

Alex speaks with Deirdre McCloskey in a wide-ranging conversation that addresses the economic, philosophical, and political reasons why liberalism just works. 

References

1. “Why Liberalism Works: How True Liberal Values Produce a Freer, More Equal, Prosperous World for All” by Dierdre Nansen McCloskey 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Liberalism-Works-Liberal-Prosperous/dp/0300235089 

2. “The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce” by Dierdre Nansen McCloskey

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Bourgeois-Virtues-Ethics-Age-Commerce/dp/0226556646 

3. “Bourgeois Dignity: Why Economics Can’t Explain Modern World” by Dierdre Nansen McCloskey

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Bourgeois-Dignity-Economics-Explain-Modern/dp/0226556743 

4. “Bourgeois Equality: How Ideas, Not Capital or Institutions, Enriched the World”

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Bourgeois-Equality-Capital-Institutions-Enriched/dp/022633399X 

5. “Dierdre N. McCloskey presents the lecture ‘The Impossibility of Policy’ hosted by the Erasmus Forum” by the Cato Institute

Link: https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/deirdre-n-mccloskey-presents-lecture-impossibility-policy-hosted 

6. “1984” by George Orwell

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/1984-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934 

7. “Forever Flowing” by Vasily Grossman

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88459.Forever_Flowing 

Dwight Newman - How Can We Maintain The Rule Of Law In An Emergency?

Alex speaks with Dwight Newman, who encourages listeners to think critically about the use of emergency powers, the term "crisis", and recent events in the history of government limits on freedom and rights.

References

1. “The Duty to Consult: New Relationships with Aboriginal Peoples” by Dwight G. Newman

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Duty-Consult-Relationships-Aboriginal-Peoples/dp/1895830370 

2. “The Law of Canadian Constitution, 2nd Edition” by Guy Regimbald and Dwight Newman

Link: https://store.lexisnexis.ca/en/products/the-law-of-the-canadian-constitution-2nd-edition-i-lexisnexis-canada-skusku-cad-6117/details 

3. “Parliamentary Committee Notes: Overview - Freedom Convoy 2022” by Public Safety Canada

Link: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20221013/03-en.aspx 

4. “Canada’s Emergencies Act” by Department of Justice Canada

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2022/02/canadas-emergencies-act.html 

5. “Legislation” by Canadian Security Intelligence Services 

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/legislation.html

Jason Lee Byas - How Should We Deal With Historic Injustice?

Alex speaks with Jason Lee Byas about the complexities of responding to questions of historic injustice, reparations, and compensation within a libertarian framework. 

References

1. Articles by Jason Lee Byas, Center for a Stateless Society 

Link: https://c4ss.org/content/author/jason-byas 

2. “Rectification and Historic Injustice” by Jason Lee Byas

Link: https://philpapers.org/archive/BYARAH.pdf 

3. “A Black Commons: A Framework for Recognition, Reconciliation, and Reparations” by Julian Agyeman and Kofi Boone 

Link: https://www.academia.edu/113180745/The_Black_CommonsA_Framework_for_Recognition_Reconciliation_Reparations 

4. “Compensation for Historic Injustices: Completing the Boxill and Sher Argument” by Andrew I. Cohen

Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40212837.pdf 

5. “Should Race Matter?: Unusual Answers to the Usual Questions” by David Boonin

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Should-Race-Matter-Unusual-Questions/dp/0521149800 

6. “The Ethics of Liberty” by Murray N. Rothbard

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0814775594 

7. “Historical Rights and Fair Shares” by A. John Simmons

Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3505011 

8. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122 

9. “Apologies and Moral Repair: Rights, Duties, and Corrective Justice” by Andrew I. Cohen

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Apologies-Moral-Repair-Corrective-Justice/dp/0367508036

David Friedman - What Does Law Have To Do With Economics?

Alex speaks with David Friedman about the history of legal systems around the world from an economic standpoint.

References

1. “The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to Radical Capitalism” by David D. Friedman

Link: http://www.daviddfriedman.com/The_Machinery_of_Freedom_.pdf 

2. “Law’s Order: What Economics Has to Do with Law and Why It Matters” by David D. Friedman

Link: http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Laws_Order_draft/laws_order_ToC.htm 

3. “Who Is David Ricardo and What Is He Famous For?” by the Investopedia Team

Link: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/david-ricardo.asp#:~:text=Ricardo's%20widely%20acclaimed%20comparative%20advantage,as%20compared%20to%20other%20nations. 

4. “Ordeals” by Peter T. Leeson

Link: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/664010

Ryan Patrick Hanley - What Is Our Great Purpose?

Alex speaks with Ryan Patrick Hanley about the enduring power of Adam Smith's contributions to not only political and moral philosophy, but to what it means to live a good life. 

References

1. “Adam Smith and the Character of Virtue” by Ryan Patrick Hanley 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Smith-Character-Virtue-Patrick-Hanley/dp/0521449294 

2. “Adam Smith: His Life, Though, and Legacy” by Ryan Patrick Hanley

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Adam-Smith-Life-Thought-Legacy/dp/0691154058 

3. “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” by Adam Smith, Ryan Patrick Hanley, and Amartya Sen

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0143105922 

4. “The Theory of Moral Sentiments and on the Origins of Language” by Adam Smith

Link: https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/smith-the-theory-of-moral-sentiments-and-on-the-origins-of-languages-stewart-ed 

5.  “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960 

6. “Our Great Purpose: Adam Smith on Living a Better Life” by Ryan Patrick Hanley 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Our-Great-Purpose-Living-Better/dp/0691179441

Jacob Levy - What Is Academic Freedom?

Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about the fine line between the generalized right to free speech and the distinct concept of academic freedom - and what implications there may be for academics and students alike in today's modern university. 

References

1. “Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rationalism-Pluralism-Freedom-Jacob-Levy/dp/0198808917 

2. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122 

3. Jacob Levy's Episodes on The Curious Task 

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/?s=jacob%20levy

Russ Roberts - What’s Wrong With Education?

Alex speaks with Russ Roberts about the nature of education and how we should rethink it in today's world. This is a special episode being released in conjunction with this week's episode of Econtalk. 

References

1. The Center for Experiential Learning at Washington University

Link: https://olin.wustl.edu/student-resources/center-for-experiential-learning.php#:~:text=The%20Center%20for%20Experiential%20Learning,Driven%E2%84%A2%20practice%20and%20application. 

2. EconTalk Podcast

Link: https://simplecast.econtalk.org/ 

3. “How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness” by Russ Roberts

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life/dp/1591847958

Aaron Powell - Is Fusionism Dead?

Alex speaks with Aaron Powell about the origins of fusionism, where it stands today, and why non-traditional alliances might be the way of the future. 

References

1. Free Thoughts Podcast 

Link: https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts 

2. ReImagining Liberty Podcast

Link: https://www.reimaginingliberty.com/podcast/ 

3. “After protests, Disney CEO speaks out against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill” by Elizabeth Blair

Link: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/08/1085130633/disney-response-florida-bill-dont-say-gay 

4. “An Introduction to Marxism for Non-Marxists” ReImagined Podcast Episode 

Link: https://www.reimaginingliberty.com/an-introduction-to-marxism-for-non-marxists-w-ian-bennett/

Sabine El-Chidiac and Peter Jaworski - Does Immigration Make A Better World?

Alex speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac and Peter Jaworski about the advantages of advocating for more refugees and immigrants in Canada, and how it makes both immigrants and receiving countries better off. 

References

1. Institute for Liberal Studies 

Link: https://www.liberalstudies.ca/

Charles Cockell - Why Is Freedom Important Beyond Earth?

Alex speaks with Charles Cockell about his focus on the future of liberty in space. They discuss solutions for protecting individual freedoms and rights on settlements beyond earth, and the novel solutions to the problems that would emerge from these overlooked facts of life in space.

References

1. “The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth” by Charles S. Cockell

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Liberty-Beyond-Earth-Society/dp/3319095668 

2. Earth and Space Foundation

Link: https://www.earthandspace.org/ 

3. “Interplanetary Liberty: Building Free Societies in the Cosmos” by Charles S. Cockell

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Interplanetary-Liberty-Building-Societies-Cosmos/dp/0192866249 

Pete Boettke — Is a Better World Possible?

Economist Pete Boettke joins Alex to discuss the promise of liberalism in creating a better world. (This episode originally aired Aug 21, 2021.)

References

1. “The Struggle for a Better World” by Pete Boettke

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Better-World-Peter-Boettke/dp/1942951876 

2. “Hayek on the Role of Reason in Human Affairs” by Intercollegiate Studies Institute

Link: https://isi.org/hayek-on-the-role-of-reason-in-human-affairs/#:~:text=Hayek's%20argument%20is%20primarily%20directed,socially%20autonomous%20human%20reason%20capable 

3. Read more about Frederick Douglass and Lysander Spooner on Abolitionism 

Link: https://teachdemocracy.org/images/pdf/Abolitionists-and-the-Constitution.pdf 

4. “National Economic Planning: What is Left?” by Don Lavoy

Link: https://www.amazon.com/National-Economic-Planning-What-Left/dp/1942951264 

5. “Politically Impossible” by W.H. Hutt

Link: https://mises.org/library/book/politically-impossible 

6. “The Theory of Economic Policy in English Classical Political Economy” by Lionel Robbins

Link: https://mises.org/library/book/theory-economic-policy-english-classical-political-economy 

7. “Liberty’s Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution” by Emma Griffin

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Libertys-Dawn-Peoples-Industrial-Revolution/dp/0300205252 

8. “So Who is Carmen Segarra? A Fed Whistleblower Q&A” by Jake Bernstein

Link: https://www.propublica.org/article/so-who-is-carmen-segarra-a-fed-whistleblower-qa 

9. “Rothbard and the Nature of the State” by Matt Palmer

Link: https://mises.org/mises-daily/rothbard-and-nature-state 

10. “Libertarianism as Humanism: Remembering Steve Horwitz” by Trevor Burrus

Link: https://www.cato.org/blog/libertarianism-humanism-remembering-steve-horwitz 

Matt Bufton - What Is The Future Of Liberalism From 2022?

Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about the effects of pandemic policy, impending war and populism on a once-optimistic outlook for liberalism's future.

References

1. Institute for Liberal Studies 

Link: https://www.liberalstudies.ca/

2. “What is the Future of Liberalism” The Curious Task Episode with Matt Bufton

Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-22-matt-bufton-%e2%80%94-what-is-the-future-of-liberalism/ 

3. “Portland Protesters Create ‘Autonomous Zone’ by Pitching Tents, Rebuilding Barricades Removed by Police” by Danielle Wallace

Link: https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-protest-autonomous-zone-tents-barricade-seattle-chop-chaz 

4. “Ukraine in Maps: Tracking the War in Russia” by the BBC Visual Journalism Team

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682 

5. “Government of Canada prohibits Russian aircraft to enter Canadian airspace” by Transport Canada

Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/02/government-of-canada-prohibits-russian-aircraft-to-enter-canadian-airspace.html

Mike Munger - What’s Wrong With Anti-Trust and Industrial Policy?

Alex speaks with Mike Munger about the concept of monopoly and the history of anti-trust and industrial policy in America. 

References

1. “Is Capitalism Sustainable?” by Michael Munger

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Sustainable-Michael-Munger/dp/1630691739 

2. “Michael Munger on Antitrust” Podcast by Econlib

Link: https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-antitrust/ 

3. “The Antitrust Laws” by the Federal Trade Commission

Link: https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/antitrust-laws 

4. “The Antitrust Paradox” by Robert H. Borke

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Antitrust-Paradox-Robert-H-Bork/dp/1736089706 

5. “Banking Act of 1933 (Glass-Steagall)” by Federal Reserve History

Link: https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/glass-steagall-act#:~:text=The%20Glass%2DSteagall%20Act%20effectively,Roosevelt%20in%20June%201933

Bryan Caplan - How Do We Fix The Housing Crisis?

Alex speaks with Bryan Caplan about his novel solutions to the housing crisis, his affinity for graphic novels as a teaching tool, and the market-based approaches that are already working despite what our psychology is leading us to believe.

References

1. “The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Myth-Rational-Voter-Democracies-Policies/dp/0691138737 

2. “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Case-against-Education-System-Waste/dp/0691174652 

3. “Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Open-Borders-Science-Ethics-Immigration/dp/1250316960 

4. “Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being A Great Parent is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Selfish-Reasons-Have-More-Kids/dp/0465028616 

5. “Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Regulation” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415 

6. “Build, Baby, Build: Now Under Construction” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.econlib.org/build-baby-build-now-under-construction/ 

7. “Laisseze-faire” by Britannica

Link: https://www.britannica.com/money/laissez-faire 

8. “Labour Econ Versus the World: Essays on the World’s Greatest Market” by Bryan Caplan

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Labor-Econ-Versus-World-Greatest/dp/B09QF44HHG

Andrew Smith - Do Entrepreneurs Help Create Peace?

Alex speaks with Andrew Smith about capitalist peace theory and discusses a Canadian case study as an example of mutually beneficial exchange leading to peace and prosperity. 

References

1. “Canadian Entrepreneurs and the Preservation of the Capitalist Peace in the North Atlantic Triangle in the Civil War Era, 1861-1871” by Andrew D. Smith and Laurence B. Mussio

Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/enterprise-and-society/article/abs/canadian-entrepreneurs-and-the-preservation-of-the-capitalist-peace-in-the-north-atlantic-triangle-in-the-civil-war-era-18611871/228FB9ECC4A2E2BA40799185F77B0239

Adam Gurri - What ls Mere Liberalism?

Alex speaks with Adam Gurri about how the large umbrella of liberalism under which a number of movements, systems of thought, and ideological identities may have more in common than is often thought. 

References

1. Liberal Currents Magazine

Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/ 

2. Embodiment and Exclusion Blog

Link: https://embodimentandexclusion.com/ 

3. Jacobin Magazine

Link: https://jacobin.com/ 

4. “The Communitarian Critique of Liberalism” by Michael Walzer

Link: https://www.ias.edu/sites/default/files/sss/pdfs/Walzer/CommunitarianCritiqueLiberalism.pdf 

5. Matthew McMannis Articles

Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/author/mattmcmanus/ 

6. “Private Government: How Employer’s Rule our Lives (and Why We Don’t Talk about It)” by Elizabeth Anderson

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Private-Government-Employers-Lives-about/dp/0691176515 

7. Alex Aragona Articles

Link: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/author/alexaragona/

Chandran Kukathas - What’s Wrong With Immigration Control?

Alex speaks with Chandran Kukathas about the costs of limiting immigration and what effects there may be on policy if the question of who counts as an immigrant is itself unclear.

References

1. “Immigration and Freedom” by Chandran Kukathas

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Immigration-Freedom-Chandran-Kukathas/dp/0691189684

Stephen Davies - What Is Global Catastrophic Risk?

Alex speaks with Steve Davies about the meaning of "Global Catastrophic Risk", and what it can reveal about how restructuring our understanding of big gambles can help us combat the threats of pandemics, climate change, and even technological singularity. 

References

1. “Empiricism and History” by Stephen Davies

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Empiricism-History-Theory-Stephen-Davies/dp/0333964705 

2. “A Dictionary of Conservative and Libertarian Thought” by Nigel Ashford and Stephen Davies

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Conservative-Libertarian-Routledge-Revivals/dp/0415670527 

3. “Apocalypse Next: The Economics of Global Catastrophic Risk” by Stephen Davies

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Apocalypse-Next-Economics-Global-Catastrophic/dp/0255368216

Dan Shahar - Is It Okay To Eat Meat?

Alex speaks with Dan Shahar about the ethical implications of meat-eating, activism in relation to problematic markets, and a tricky thought experiment involving aliens and cows. 

References

1. “Environmental Ethics: What Really Matters, What Really Works” by David Schmidtz and Dan C. Shahar

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Environmental-Ethics-Really-Matters-Works/dp/0190259221 

2. “Why It’s OK to Eat Meat” by Dan C. Shahar

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Its-OK-Eat-Meat/dp/0367172763

Will Clare Roberts - What Was Marx’s Relation To Liberalism?

Alex speaks with Professor Will Clare Roberts about Marx's life, his liberal past, and the relationship between the Marxist and liberal conceptions of freedom.

References

1. “Marx’s Inferno: The Political Theory of Capitalism” by William Clare Roberts

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Marxs-Inferno-Political-Theory-Capital/dp/0691172900 

2. “Capital: Volume I” by Karl Marx

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Capital-Critique-Political-Economy-Kapital-ebook/dp/B002XHNMN0 

3. “The Civil War In France” by Karl Marx

Link: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/ 

4. “The Paris Commune” by Karl Marx

Link: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/ch05.htm 

5. “The International Workingmen’s Association: General Rules, October 1864” by Karl Marx

Link: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/iwma/documents/1864/rules.htm 

6. “Free Time and Free People” by William Clare Roberts

Link: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/free-time-free-people/ 

7. “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith 

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1680920960 

8. “The Eighteenth Brumiare of Louis Bonaparte” by Karl Marx

Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Eighteenth-Brumaire-Louis-Bonaparte-Karl/dp/0717800563 

9. “Articles by Karl Marx in the New York Tribune, 1852-61” by Marxist Internet Archives

Link: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/newspapers/new-york-tribune.htm