The Rational Egoist

Debating the Nature of Rights with Stephan Kinsella In this episode of The Rational Egoist , host Michael Liebowitz engages in a stimulating debate with libertarian writer and patent attorney Stephan Kinsella on the nature of rights. Drawing from his book Legal Foundations of a Free Society and his extensive work on legal and political theory, Kinsella offers his perspective on the origins, scope,...

Why Corporate Taxes Should Be Abolished, with Jeffrey Miron In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Jeffrey Miron, vice president for research at the Cato Institute and director of graduate and undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics at Harvard University, to make the case for abolishing corporate taxes. Miron explains how corporate taxes distort ec...

Discussing Progressive Myths with Professor Michael Huemer In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes Professor Michael Huemer, a renowned philosopher from the University of Colorado and the author of Progressive Myths. Together, they unpack some of the most pervasive myths propagated by progressive ideologies, examining their philosophical underpinnings, logical incon...

Discussing Populism with Professor Sidney Milkis In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz speaks with Professor Sidney M. Milkis, White Burkett Miller Professor in the Department of Politics and renowned scholar of American politics. Milkis delves into the rise of populism, its impact on political institutions, and the challenges it poses to the stability of democratic govern...

Reviewing The Train from an Objectivist Perspective with Professor Andrew Bernstein In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz sits down with Professor Andrew Bernstein, Objectivist philosopher and author, to review the classic film The Train through the lens of Objectivism. Bernstein, a staunch advocate for capitalism and individualism, offers insights into the film’s portraya...

Narcissist or Bully? With Mariette Jansen, Ph. D. In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes Dr. Mariette Jansen, psychotherapist, life coach, and author of From Victim to Victor: Narcissism Survival Guide, to discuss the complex dynamics between narcissistic and bullying behavior. Dr. Jansen sheds light on the psychological traits of narcissists and bullies, examining...

Trump's Victory: Assessing the Concerns with Jacob Sullum In this episode of "The Rational Egoist," host Michael Liebowitz tackles the pressing question: "Trump Won. Should we be Concerned?" Joining him is Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor at Reason magazine, to provide expert insights on this timely topic. As the nation grapples with the implications of Donald Trump's election victory, Liebowitz and Su...

The Case Against Kamala Harris, as Prosecuted by James Stevens Valliant In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by James Stevens Valliant for a critical examination of Vice President Kamala Harris’s record and policies. Valliant, known for his incisive commentary, lays out a detailed case against Harris, focusing on her career as a prosecutor, her political decisio...

A Case for Kamala? With Professor Ilya Somin In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason University and Kenneth B. Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at The Cato Institute. Together, they explore the political and constitutional implications of Vice President Kamala Harris’...

Discovering the Power of Metaphor with Dr. Eva Krockow In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes Dr. Eva Krockow, Associate Professor of Psychology and Vision Sciences at the University of Leicester, to explore the fascinating world of metaphor. Dr. Krockow explains how metaphors shape our thinking, communication, and decision-making in both subtle and profound ways....

Antitrust and Google with Ethan Yang In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Ethan Yang, a full-time researcher at The Cato Institute and Adjunct Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), to discuss the contentious topic of antitrust regulation and its impact on Google. Yang explores the implications of government intervention in te...

Interpreting History through a Classical Liberal Lens with Professor Michael Douma In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes Professor Michael J. Douma, Associate Professor of History at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, to discuss the classical liberal method of interpreting history. Douma explains how a classical liberal approach values individua...

In this episode of The Rational Egoist , host Michael Liebowitz is joined by James Stevens Valliant for a robust discussion as they steel-man the case against Donald Trump. Rather than focusing on the usual partisan critiques, they aim to present the strongest, most rational arguments against Trump from a principled standpoint. Valliant, known for his sharp analytical mind, brings a nuanced perspe...

The Dangerous Impact of Progressive Education on School Violence: An Interview with Neil Erian In today's episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz sits down with Neil Erian, a former math teacher and current engineer in the aircraft industry, to discuss a controversial yet pressing issue: the connection between progressive education and the rise in school shootings. Drawing from his...

The Rational Egoist: An Objectivist Analysis of "Judgment at Nuremberg" with Andrew Bernstein In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Andrew Bernstein, professor and Objectivist philosopher, to discuss the classic film Judgment at Nuremberg from an Objectivist perspective. Bernstein and Liebowitz delve into the film’s moral and philosophical themes, examining is...

The Rational Egoist: A Fascinating Conversation with Professed Psychic Danielle Taverna In this unique episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Danielle Taverna, a professed psychic. Together, they explore the world of psychic phenomena, personal intuition, and the role of belief in understanding the unknown. Taverna shares her experie...

The Rational Egoist: Are Immigrant Murderers Roaming U.S. Streets? An Interview with Alex Nowrasteh In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz interviews Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies at The Cato Institute, to tackle a pressing and controversial issue: Are immigrants convicted of murder roaming the streets of the U.S.? Together, they expl...

The Rational Egoist: Do Trump's Assets Outweigh His Liabilities? A Debate with Professor Richard Salsman In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz debates Professor Richard Salsman, an economist at Duke University and Senior Scholar at The Atlas Society, on the controversial question: Do Donald Trump's assets outweigh his liabilities? Together, they analyze Trump's political,...

The Rational Egoist: Examining DEI and its Psychological Tactics with Joseph "Jake" KleinIn this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Joseph "Jake" Klein, writer, filmmaker, and cofounder of The Black Sheep, to discuss the rise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the psychological methods used to promote them. Klein, who is also the lead writer...

The Rational Egoist: The History of Classical Liberalism with Phillip W. Magness In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz sits down with Phillip W. Magness, an economic historian specializing in the U.S. and the broader Atlantic world, to explore the rich history of classical liberalism. Magness traces the philosophical roots and evolution of this political ideology, discussi...

The Rational Egoist: Understanding Populism with Professor Nicholas JacobsIn this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Professor Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government at Colby College, to explore the rise and impact of populism in modern politics. As the coauthor of What Happened to the Vital Center?, Jacobs provides insights into the populist movements...

The Rational Egoist: Understanding the Three Languages of Politics with Arnold Kling In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes Arnold Kling, economist, scholar, and author of The Three Languages of Politics, to discuss the frameworks through which different political groups communicate and understand the world. Kling breaks down the core concepts from his book, explai...

In this special episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz debates Walter Block, the Harold E. Wirth Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics at Loyola University, New Orleans, on the merits and challenges of anarcho-capitalism. With Tom Woods, renowned historian and libertarian commentator, moderating the discussion, the debate dives deep into the philosophy, practicality, and implica...

The Rational Egoist: The Liberty Movement and Current Events with Jon Miltimore In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz sits down with Jon Miltimore, Senior Editor at the American Institute for Economic Research, for an engaging discussion about the liberty movement and its relevance to current events. Miltimore shares his insights into the state of individual freedom, econo...

The Rational Egoist: Why Western Civilization is Worth Defending with Professor Andrew Bernstein In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz is joined by Professor Andrew Bernstein, a philosopher, novelist, and outspoken advocate of capitalism, to remind us why Western civilization is worth defending. Bernstein explores the philosophical and cultural achievements of the West, em...