Episodes
-
Matt Zwolinski on Libertarianism
Matt Zwolinski is professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego and the founder and director of USD’s Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy. Zwolinski is the co-editor of The Routledge Companion to Libertarianism, and he is the co-author, with John Tomasi, of The…
more -
Ian Silverii on Progressive Aims and Tactics
Ian Silverii is the former leader of Progress Now Colorado, founder of the political Bighorn Company, and "First Gentleman of Colorado's 7th Congressional District" following the election of his wife Brittany Pettersen. My main purpose in hosting this conversation was to see if two people with...
-
Dave Kopel on Guns and Tyranny
Dave Kopel is research director of the Independence Institute in Colorado and a leading attorney on Second Amendment issues. He is the author of Aiming for Liberty: The Past, Present, And Future of Freedom and Self-Defense, Colorado Constitutional Law and History, several other books, and…
more -
Sheriff Bill Masters on Peace Keeping and the Drug War
Sheriff Bill Masters discusses peace keeping and how that relates to the war on drugs. Masters, of Telluride, San Miguel County, is the longest serving sheriff in Colorado history, having taken over the position in 1980. Masters also is the author of the 2001 book, Drug War Addiction: Notes from...
-
Robert Tracinski on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged
Robert Tracinski is the author of the book, So Who Is John Galt, Anyway?: A Reader's Guide to Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." Tracinski also writes the Tracinski Letter and Symposium at Substack, and he is a columnist for various other publications. This is the Self in Society Podcast #26. Time...
-
Lisa Thomas-Smith on Moral Habits
Drawing on her dissertation work on moral habits, philosopher Lisa Thomas-Smith (now at Clemson) discusses the nature of and need for habits, methods for improving our habits, cultural influences on people's habits, recent cultural shifts for better and worse, and more. Time Stamps 00 Intro 1:02...
-
Michael Huemer on Rationality and Objectivity
Philosopher Michael Huemer, author of Knowledge, Reality, and Value, discusses the meaning of rationality and objectivity, explains why the distinction between fact and opinion is more complex than many people presume, and promotes intellectual virtues.
-
Steve Spangler on Engaging Science
Steve Spangler, host of DIY Sci, discusses how parents and teachers can foster kids' love of science and help children discover their "spark" in life. He also shares his thoughts on the development and future of online education and recounts his experiences as a pioneer in the field.
-
Jason Stotts on Erotic Love
Jason Stotts, psychotherapist and author of Eros & Ethos, discusses sexuality as an expression of our ethical lives, analyzes the false choice of repression versus hedonism, and addresses gender identity and other aspects of our sexuality. This is the Self in Society Podcast #22.
-
Christina Sandefur on the Defense of Property Rights
Christina Sandefur of the free-market Goldwater Institute in Arizona discusses her coauthored book, Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America, and related issues. This is the Self in Society Podcast #21.
-
Robert Alan Goldberg on American Conspiracy Theories
Historian Robert Alan Goldberg, author of Enemies Within: The Culture of Conspiracy in Modern America, discusses the history of conspiracy thinking in the U.S. and explains how "new" conspiracy theories such as that involving QAnon recycle and embellish old themes. This is the Self in Society...
-
Timothy Sandefur on Frederick Douglass
Timothy Sandefur, author of Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man, discusses Douglass's life, political philosophy, and influence in his day and up to the present. This is the Self in Society Podcast episode #19.
-
Michael Donnelly on Homeschooling and the Law: Self in Society #18
Michael Donnelly, Senior Counsel and Director of Global Outreach with the Home School Legal Defense Association, discusses the motivations for homeschooling and the legal aspects of it, with a special focus on Colorado.
-
Robert Alan Goldberg on the Klan in Colorado
Historian Robert Alan Goldberg discusses his book, Hooded Empire: The Klu Klux Klan in Colorado, and its lessons for today. This is the Self in Society Podcast #17.
-
Mark Silverstein on Your Rights when Interacting with Police: Self in Society #16
Mark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado, discusses your rights when interacting with police, troubling police actions during protests, and Colorado police reforms.
-
Robin Hanson on Variolation as a Response to COVID-19: Self in Society #15
Economist and iconoclast Robin Hanson suggests that variolation—controlled, intentional infection of the virus that causes COVID-19—could be an important "Plan B" if containment fails in the long-term and eventual herd immunity seems likely.
-
Kevin Currie-Knight on Crisis Schooling Versus Homeschooling: Self in Society #14
Kevin Currie-Knight, professor of education at East Carolina University and president of the board of New Pathfinder Community School, warns against equating the home "crisis schooling" curing the COVID-19 epidemic with homeschooling as families practice it in normal times. He offers some…
more -
Bryan Alvarez on the COVID-19 Crisis
Dr. Bryan Alvarez, now in private practice after serving as the Public Health Director of the United States Northern Command from 2016–2019, discusses the problems and promise of testing our way out of the coronavirus crisis. He also talks about the process of bringing antiviral drugs and…
more -
Steven Horwitz on Hayek and the Family: Self in Society #12
Economist Steven Horwitz offers a classical liberal theory of the family grounded in the works of Friedrich Hayek. Unlike conservatives, who tend to glorify a tradition-bound model of the family, and Progressives, who sometimes denigrate the family, Horwitz offers a vision of the family as a...
-
Pamela Clare on Romance Fiction: Self in Society #11
Pamela Clare is a gun-toting Rush fan—and Boulder Progressive Democrat—who writes romantic fiction. She almost died in a mountain fall and had to be helicoptered out. She got death threats while working as an investigative journalist and had to tell one gun-waving disgruntled reader to get the…
more -
Melvin Konner on Religious Belief: Self in Society #10
Anthropologist Melvin Konner—author of Believers: Faith in Human Nature—explains the persistence of religious belief in the face of atheistic criticisms. Konner discusses his religious background and his path to a study of biological anthropology, including his work with the !Kung people in...
-
Kevin Currie-Knight on Self-Directed Education: Self in Society #9
Kevin Currie-Knight—professor of education at East Carolina University, author of Education in the Marketplace, and president of the board of New Pathfinder Community School—discusses self-directed education and answers various objections to it.her subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
-
Jason Crawford on the Roots of Progress: Self in Society #8
Jason Crawford, entrepreneur and author of the Roots of Progress blog, discusses what progress is, where it comes from, and how it vastly betters our lives. In the process, he highlights key industrial and technological innovations, explains the errors of Malthus, and discusses how we can keep...
-
John Coffey on Religious Toleration: Self in Society #7
Historian John Coffey discusses his book, Persecution and Toleration in Protestant England 1558–1689, and its lessons for today. Coffey reviews the establishment of the Anglican church and the tensions between that church and both the Catholics and the Puritans, tensions that often erupted into...
-
Lawrence Goldstone on the Death and Legacy of Michael Servetus: Self in Society #6
In Out of the Flames, Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone recount the remarkable life and shocking death of Michael Servetus, theologian, editor, physician, and heretic. Lawrence discusses Servetus's religious views and his lifelong rivalry with John Calvin, who eventually had him tried for heresy and...
-
Timothy Sandefur on the Ascent of Jacob Bronowski: Self in Society #5
Timothy Sandefur discusses the remarkable life and thought of science educator Jacob Bronowski, creator of the landmark documentary series The Ascent of Man. Sandefur's The Ascent of Jacob Bronowski is the first book-length biography of this fascinating figure.
-
James Valliant on Rome and Christianity: Self in Society #4
James Valliant discusses his book, Creating Christ, in which he and his coauthor Warren Fahy argue that the Roman emperors Nero, Vespasian, and Titus played an active role in the development of early Christianity. Valliant discusses the broader context of the Jewish-Roman conflict of the First...
-
Michael Huemer on Animal Welfare: Self in Society #3
Philosopher Michael Huemer discusses his book, Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism, focusing on the problem of the severe suffering of most animals currently raised for their flesh, skin, milk, or eggs. He also discusses the difference between a strict vegan diet and a diet that includes bivalves...
-
Robert Anthony Peters on Tank Man, Hollywood, Liberty, and Stoicism: Self in Society #2
Writer and Director Robert Anthony Peters discusses his short film, Tank Man, in the context of Chinese politics. Peters, an actor as well, also offers advice to young actors, discusses his advocacy of liberty, and outlines what in Stoicism he finds valuable.
-
Robert Zubrin on the Case for Space: Self in Society #1
Robert Zubrin, head of the Mars Society and of Pioneer Astronautics, discusses his new book, The Case for Space. Zubrin discusses how he became interested in space, his vision for a spacefaring civilization within the next fifty years, his Mars Direct plan, and his views on why people should…
more
About this show
Exploring what it means to flourish as an individual and a community.
Hosted by
Ari Armstrong
Categories