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The Curious Task

Institute for Liberal Studiesthecurioustask.podbean.com
We explore philosophy, politics, economics, and other ideas from a classical liberal perspective.
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Episodes

Sarah Burns — Is American Foreign Policy Broken?

Alex Aragona chats with Sarah Burns about whether American foreign policy is broken as a result of a breakdown of the separation, and increased centralization, of power. References from Episode 17 with Sarah Burns: You can buy Sarah Burns’ book The Politics of War Powers: The Theory and History of Presidential Unilateralism here on Amazon Canada...

Nov 27, 20191 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 17

Alain Bertaud — Who Knows Best About Planning a City?

Alex Aragona chats with Alain Bertaud as he shares his thoughts on how cities truly flourish and how urban planners should approach their role. References from Episode 16 with Alain Bertaud: You can buy Alain Bertaud’s book Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities here on Amazon Canada

Nov 20, 201958 minSeason 1Ep. 16

Jen Dirmeyer — What Do Markets Do For Us?

Alex Aragona speaks with Jen Dirmeyer as she explores what markets do for us and the different ways they impact our lives. References 1. “The Use of Knowledge in Society” by Freidrich August von Hayek Link: https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/articles/hayek-use-knowledge-society.pdf

Nov 13, 20191 hr 8 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Steve Horwitz — How Has Capitalism Helped Create The Modern Family?

Alex Aragona speaks with Steve Horwitz as he explores how the evolution of capitalism also shaped the modern family. References 1. “Hayek’s Modern Family: Classical Liberalism and the Evolution of Social Institutions” by Steve Horwitz Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Hayeks-Modern-Family-Liberalism-Institutions/dp/1137448229

Nov 06, 20191 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Abigail Hall — How Does Foreign Policy Create a Boomerang Effect at Home?

Alex Aragona speaks with Abigail Hall as she describes how various elements of United States foreign policy ultimately come back home from abroad and affect domestic life. References 1. “Tyranny Comes Home: The Domestic Fate of U.S. Militarism” by Abigail Hall Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Tyranny-Comes-Home-Domestic-Militarism/dp/1503605272 2. “Ferguson Riot and Ferguson Unrest (2014-2015)” by BlackPast Link: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/ferguson-riot-and-ferguson-unrest-201...

Oct 30, 201959 minSeason 1Ep. 13

Jason Kuznicki — What Is Government For?

Alex Aragona speaks with Jason Kuznicki as he explores some history on how intellectuals viewed the state, and how we should view the state. References from Episode 12 with Jason Kuznicki: You can buy Jason Kuznicki’s book Technology and the End of Authority: What Is Government For? here on Amazon Canada

Oct 23, 20191 hrSeason 1Ep. 12

Sigal Ben-Porath — How Can Speech Be Protected on Campus?

Alex Aragona speaks with Sigal Ben-Porath as she details her perspective on campus free speech issues. References 1. “Free Speech on Campus” by Sigal Ben-Porath Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Speech-Campus-Sigal-Ben-Porath/dp/0812250079

Oct 16, 20191 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Chris Freiman — Do People Have the Right to Immigrate?

Alex Aragona speaks with Chris Freiman as he shares his thoughts on whether people have the right to immigrate. References 1. Christopher Freiman’s Articles, Bleeding Heart Libertarianism Link: https://bleedingheartlibertarians.com/author/christopher-freiman/ 2. “A Defense of Open Borders” by Christopher Freiman Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-93907-0_13 3. “Liberalism or Immigration Restriction, But Not Both” by Chris Freiman and Javier Hidalgo Link: https://cafreiman....

Oct 09, 201956 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Jessica Flanigan — Should We Legalize All Drugs?

Alex Aragona speaks with Jessica Flanigan as she explores whether all drugs should be legalized. References 1. “Pharmaceutical Freedom: Why Patients Have a Right to Self Medicate” by Jessica Flanigan Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Pharmaceutical-Freedom-Patients-Right-Medicate/dp/0190684542

Oct 02, 201959 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Andrew Work — Has The Extradition Law Conflict Pushed Hong Kong Toward a More Liberal Environment?

Alex Aragona speaks with Hongkonger Andrew Work. Relying on his first-hand experience with the Hong Kong extradition law protests, he explores whether recent political tensions have pushed Hong Kong toward a more liberal environment. References 1. Lion Rock Institute Link: https://www.lionrockinstitute.org/en/ 2. “What was Hong Kong’s ‘Occupy’ movement all about? By Reuters Link: https://www.reuters.com/article/world/what-was-hong-kongs-occupy-movement-all-about-idUSKCN1S005M/ 3. “Government Str...

Sep 25, 20191 hr 12 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Eric Mack — Why Not Socialism?

Alex Aragona asks Eric Mack to explore his views on what socialism is and if it's the answer to the problems proponents say it can solve. References 1. “John Locke” by Eric Mack Link: https://www.amazon.ca/John-Locke-Eric-Mack/dp/0826429815 2. “Libertarianism” by Eric Mack Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Libertarianism-Eric-Mack/dp/1509519297 3. “The Essential John Locke (Essential Scholars)” by Eric Mack Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Essential-John-Locke-Scholars-ebook/dp/B0861HV225 4. “The Road to S...

Sep 18, 20191 hrSeason 1Ep. 7

Paul Robinson — Does Military Intervention Work?

Alex Aragona chats with Paul Robinson as he offers his thoughts on whether or not military intervention works (and explores what is meant by "works"). References 1. IRRUSIANALITY Link: https://irrussianality.wordpress.com/

Sep 11, 20191 hr 11 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Pierre Desrochers & Joanna Szurmak — Is Overpopulation Hurting the Planet?

Alex Aragona chats with Pierre Desrochers and Joanna Szurmak as they explore whether or not an increasing population necessarily harms the planet. References from Episode 5 with Pierre Desrochers and Joanna Szurmak: You can purchase Pierre Desrochers and Joanna Szurmak’s book Population Bombed!: Exploding the Link Between Overpopulation and Climate Change on Amazon Canada at this link . You can read Thomas Malthus’ book An Essay on the Principle of Population here. You can read Garrett Hardin’s ...

Sep 04, 20191 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 5

James Harrigan — Can We Have Principled Politicians?

Alex Aragona asks James Harrigan to explore his thoughts on whether or not we can have principled politicians that represent us. References from Episode 4 with James Harrigan: You can read more about James Madison’s thoughts on the importance of checks and balances, which James Harrigan refers to during the podcast, at this link . You can read The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison for free on the online Library of Congress here . Herbert Croly’s book The Promis...

Aug 28, 201959 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Jacob Levy — Does a Liberal Society Need to be Democratic?

Alex Aragona and Jacob Levy explore Jacob's belief on whether or not a liberal society requires democratic institutions. References from Episode 3 with Jacob T. Levy: Check out the article Political Libertarianism by Jacob T. Levy here Buy the book Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom by Jacob T. Levy here...

Aug 21, 20191 hr 7 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Peter Jaworski — Should Markets Have Limits?

Alex Aragona and Peter Jaworski explore Peter's perspective on what the limits of markets should be. The conversation also explores the ethics surrounding paid blood and plasma donations. References from Episode 2 with Peter Jaworski: Buy the book Markets Without Limits here Check out the Donation Ethics website here

Aug 14, 201957 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Nigel Ashford — What is Classical Liberalism?

Alex Aragona and Nigel Ashford explore what Nigel considers to be the basic tenets of classical liberalism. References from Episode 1 with Nigel Ashford: More on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-111_j4el.pdf Read up on the Doing Business Index rankings at https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/rankingshere Read On Liberty by John Stuart Mill at https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/mill/liberty.pdf...

Jul 29, 20191 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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