The Curious Task

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-Lib...

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: 

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-...

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 L...

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-Democracie...

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/cor...

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...

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

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  ...

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 Ea...

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/C...

Alex speaks with James Harrigan about popular culture as a source of social change and the many ways in which the export of American pop culture has shaped the world. References 1. “Brown v. Board of Education” by the National Archives Link: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education   2. “Roe v. Wade” by Britannica Link: https://www.britannica.com/event/Roe-v-Wade

Alex speaks with Curious Task Executive Producer Matt Bufton and Producer Sabine El-Chidiac about topics related to freedom from 2021, and reflect on their favourite moments and accomplishments from the past year of The Curious Task.  References 1. “Welcoming Afghans to Canada” by the Government of Canada Link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan...

Alex speaks with Tony Gill about the pros and cons of gift-giving from an economist's perspective - just in time for the holiday season! References 1. “Research on Religion” Podcast by Anthony Gill Link: http://www.researchonreligion.org/   2. “The Comparative Endurance and Efficiency of Religion: A Public Choice Approach” by Anthony Gill Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3...

Alex speaks with Lotta Stern about the tendency in sociology to overlook voluntary actions and associations as a means of addressing some of the largest social challenges of our day, and about the importance of avoiding absolutism in sociological thinking. References 1. “Class Origin and Elite Position of Men in Business Firms in Sweden, 1993-2007: The Importance of Education, Cognitive Ability, a...

Alex speaks with Bill Glod about bad choices, coercion, and paternalism in order to flesh out the ideas from his 2020 book "Why It's Okay To Make Bad Choices". References 1. “Why It’s OK to Make Bad Choices” by William Glod Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Its-Make-Bad-Choices/dp/0367195178   2. “Why it’s OK: The Ethics and Aesthetics of How We Live” Book Series by Routledge Link: https://www.routl...

Alex speaks with Gary Chartier about the varied ways in which the term "capitalism" is used today, the distinction between left-libertarianism and anarchism, and the future of market-based approaches to rooting out injustice from today's complex world. References 1. “Public Practice, Private Law: An Essay of Love, Marriage, and the State” by Gary Chartier Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Public-Practic...

Alex speaks with Ben Klutsey about the political polarization that is endemic to American society today, and how novel attempts to bridge the divide are being made by both individuals and organizations. References 1. “Overdoing Democracy: Why We Must Put Politics in its Place” by Robert B. Talisse Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Overdoing-Democracy-Must-Politics-Place/dp/0190924195   2. Read more abou...

Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about Montesquieu's role in shaping contemporary political science, the American revolutionary project, and the role of the separation of powers as a bulwark against despotism.  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...

Alex speaks with Geoff Kellow about the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin and whether they can help us better understand the connection between markets and virtue. References 1. “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” by Benjamin Franklin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin/dp/1508475091   2. “Benjamin Franklin and Adam Smith: Two Strangers and the Spirit of Capitalis...

Alex speaks with Dan Smith about the lack of accountability in the contemporary world of monetary policy and why greater discretion may not be the answer. References 1. “Money and the Rule of Law: Generality and Predictability in Monetary Institutions” by Peter Boettke, Alexander Salter, and Daniel Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Money-Rule-Law-Predictability-Institutions/dp/1108479847   2. “Who...

Alex speaks with Bruce Caldwell on the history of one of the world's most exclusive intellectual societies. References 1. “Hayek’s Challenge: An Intellectual Biography of F.A. Hayek” by Bruce Caldwell Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Hayeks-Challenge-Intellectual-Biography-F/dp/0226091937   2. “Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950” by Bruce Caldwell  Link: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo1362...

Alex Aragona speaks with Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli about whether the monarchy might seem absurd, and whether a little absurdity can be a good thing.  References 1. “The Monarchy and the Constitution” by Vernon Bogdanor Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Monarchy-Constitution-Vernon-Bogdanor/dp/0198293348

Alex Aragona speaks with Maria Pia Paganelli as she sheds light on the historical context of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, and some of the surprising insights within it that make it more relevant than ever today.  References 1. “The Routledge Guidebook to Smith’s Wealth of Nations” by Maria Pia Paginelli Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Routledge-Guidebook-Smiths-Wealth-Nations/dp/1138686158   2....

Alex Aragona speaks with Emily Nacol as she breaks down both the origins and contemporary puzzles of the concept of risk. References 1. "An Age of Risk: Politics and Economy in Early Britain" by Emily Nacol Link: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691165103/an-age-of-risk?srsltid=AfmBOoqPrhGB4AqvPOCalJPxFfkdI6iTXt5dkYsLvm5jCerE2A063rcP   2. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes  Link: https://...