The Curious Task

Alex speaks again with philosopher Eric Mack about "Anarchy, State and Utopia", this time touching on some of the challenges to Nozick's theory and Eric's own personal connection to Robert Nozick during his life. References 1. Part 1 of Eric Mack’s The Curious Task Episode on “Why Read Anarchy, State, and Utopia?” Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-145-eric-mack-why-read-anarchy-state-a...

Alex speaks with Philosopher Eric Mack about Robert Nozick's "Anarchy State and Utopia" and how the book shaped the conversation around natural rights theory, philosophical libertarianism, and the study of political utopias for decades to come. References 1. Eric Mack’s Previous Episode “Why Not Socialism?” on the Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-7-eric-mack-%e2%8...

Alex speaks with Abigail Hall about propaganda - an elusive and at times far-reaching concept that can be found everywhere: from overt wartime speeches by presidents to covert uses of sports and film to promote the ends of state militarism. References 1. “Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror” by Christopher J. Coyne and Abigail R. Hall Link: https://www.amazon....

Alex speaks with Kevin Munger about why the oft-parodied and dismissed subject of inter-generational conflict may help us to better understand current economic and policy trends in America and abroad. References 1. “Generation Gap: Why the Baby Boomers Still Dominate American Politics and Culture” by Kevin Munger Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Generation-Gap-Dominate-American-Politics/dp/B08ZK7YV47

Due to Ottawa's electricity grids being all but completely destroyed after the city was treated to a derecho over the long weekend, we were unable to use our devices to produce episodes or the internet to upload a new one. For now, please enjoy a timely re-release of our conversation with Stephen Davies on global catastrophic risk. References 1. “Empiricism and History” by Stephen Davies Link: htt...

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 Bou...

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....

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...

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/...

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 Patric...

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 Mu...

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%20Experien...

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’...

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/

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...