EPISODE · Jul 1, 2025 · 24 MIN
Why Are We Cowards? - Obedience and the RISE of Authoritarianism | Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
from The Cause - Rob Pirie · host Robert Pirie
Send us Fan MailWhy Do People Give Up Their Freedom So Easily? | "Discourse On Voluntary Servitude" - BoetieHEY!!! Welcome back, everyone! Étienne de La Boétie's Discourse on Voluntary Servitude is a powerful political essay that explores why people willingly submit to tyranny. Written in the 16th century, La Boétie argues that oppressive rulers maintain power not through strength, but through the consent of the governed. He challenges readers to recognize their own complicity and urges passive resistance as a path to freedom. This timeless work is a foundational text in political philosophy, influencing later thinkers like Montaigne, Rousseau, and Thoreau. Ideal for readers interested in liberty, civil disobedience, and the psychology of power. I truly hope you enjoy! Reading Series Below: 1. A Defense Of Classical Education: https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/mp/a-defence-of-classical-education/ @memoriapress 2. Weapons Of Mass Instruction: https://amzn.to/3RojPS13. The Republic: https://amzn.to/45kkp9o4. The Social Contract: https://amzn.to/4cl1Ns95. The Abolition Of Man: https://amzn.to/3VD5X926. Discourse On Voluntary Servitude: https://amzn.to/3x3AFPv7. The Road to Serfdom: https://amzn.to/3Xq8hSp8. The Political Theory Of The American Founding: https://amzn.to/4chLD2xBest Headphones for listening to books. My Headphones (Great Noise Cancelling) - https://amzn.to/4jLzK9MIf you want to support this series, please consider purchasing my coffee linked below or checking out some of my favorite books below. MY COFFEE Website: http://cedarotacoffee.com/ * Use Code "thecause" for 15% off on your first order. Support the show
What this episode covers
Send us Fan Mail Why Do People Give Up Their Freedom So Easily? | "Discourse On Voluntary Servitude" - Boetie HEY!!! Welcome back, everyone! Étienne de La Boétie's Discourse on Voluntary Servitude is a powerful political essay that explores why people willingly submit to tyranny. Written in the 16th century, La Boétie argues that oppressive rulers maintain power not through strength, but through the consent of the governed. He challenges readers to recognize their own complicity and u...
NOW PLAYING
Why Are We Cowards? - Obedience and the RISE of Authoritarianism | Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Mar 19, 2026 ·34m
Feb 18, 2026 ·11m
Feb 11, 2026 ·45m