The Voluntary Life

An AI narration of the article 'What The Declaration of Independence Should Have Said' by Jake Desyllas. The preamble of the US Declaration of Independence is among the most influential passages in the history of libertarian thought — but does it actually hold up to the way libertarians now think about rights? In this short piece, Jake Desyllas proposes a rewrite. He argues that "all men are created equal" claims more than is self-evident, that "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" obscures the underlying property-rights framework, and that the preamble's commitment to self-evident truths is better grounded in claims that cannot be denied without contradiction. The result is a tighter, more rigorous foundation for rights: self ownership, homesteading, and voluntary agreement, with universal law applying equally to all. First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2024/11/28/what-the-declaration-of-independence-should-have-said on 28 November 2024.

An AI narration of the article 'Children Do Not Have Obligations to Their Parents' by Jake Desyllas. In a libertarian legal order, parents owe positive obligations to their children — to feed, shelter, and protect them — because the parents' own actions brought the child into existence. But does the relationship run the other way? Do grown children owe their parents care in old age? In this short piece Jake argues no: legitimate positive obligations arise only from one's own actions, and a child has not acted to create the relationship he is born into. He examines Andrew J. Peach's case for "unchosen" filial obligations and finds it unjustified, then turns to a different question — whether young children have a moral, though unenforceable, duty to obey their parents in cases where paternal protection is warranted. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:34 The Peach Counter-argument 4:16 Children's Obligations During Childhood First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2025/5/22/children-do-not-have-obligations-to-their-parents on 22 May 2025.

An AI narration of the article 'The Theory Of Acquired Rights Violates Hoppe's Specificity Principle' by Jake Desyllas. Do we have rights because of what we are, or because of some capacity we later acquire? Libertarians are split, and the stakes run straight through the hardest questions about children, abortion, and self-ownership. This episode tests the two rival theories against one of Hans-Hermann Hoppe's meta-ethical principles: that every property right must be specific about who holds it and when. Drawing on admissions from Tibor Machan, Judith Jarvis Thomson, and Stephan Kinsella, it argues that the theory of acquired rights cannot say when a child becomes a self-owner, and so fails the test on its own terms. The theory of inherent rights, which locates the start of rights at conception, does not. A short, sharp piece on a meta-ethical principle with large consequences. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:25 The theory of acquired rights is not specific about when a child becomes a self owner 7:29 The Theory of Inherent Rights Conforms To The Specificity Principle First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2025/1/21/the-theory-of-acquired-rights-violates-hoppes-specificity-principle on 21 January 2025.

An AI narration of the article 'Three Questions Philosophers Do Not Want To Answer About Parenting' by Jake Desyllas. Why are books on the ethics of parenting so consistently dull? In this episode, Jake Desyllas argues that the blandness is no accident — it is the product of strategic omission. Philosophers of the family routinely skirt around questioning the practices that most urgently deserve scrutiny: corporal punishment, circumcision, and abortion. These are widely accepted parental practices that are also ethically indefensible, and they constitute acts of aggression by parents that violate the rights of their children. Drawing on Patrick Lenta, Walter Block and Patrick Testa, and Brad Stetson, Jake explains how this silence functions as conformity to intellectual taboo — and why refusing to address such questions is an abdication of the basic responsibility of a philosopher. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:35 Corporal Punishment 3:38 Circumcision 4:24 Abortion 6:06 Recent Practices to Add to the List First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2025/2/5/three-questions-philosophers-do-not-want-to-answer-about-parenting on 5 February 2025.

An AI narration of the article 'The Cost of Bad Street Design' by Jake Desyllas. In this article, Jake Desyllas examines the hidden costs of a design ideology that came to dominate twentieth-century traffic planning: the idea that pedestrians and vehicles must be physically segregated, with streets re-engineered as conduits for through traffic. Drawing on his work in a pedestrian movement consultancy, he traces the lineage from Herbert Alker Tripp's 1940s advocacy of "fencing off the perils" through the influential 1963 Buchanan report, and shows how the resulting guard-rails, underpasses and signalised crossings produce the opposite of what they promise. The casualties are not only the obvious ones — dislocated communities, dying high streets, declining walking, rising obesity — but the loss of streets themselves as places where everyday life happens. An invitation to question whether the segregated, single-use street is really the only way. Chapters: 0:00 Title 0:05 Introduction 3:03 The consequences of bad street design 4:31 Planning for traffic 8:29 Reshaping our cities 12:44 Dangerous streets 17:16 The death of walking 22:04 Alternative solutions 25:11 Conclusion First published in 2006 by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

An AI narration of the article 'A Critique of Nozick's Comments on Parental Obligations and Children's Rights' by Jake Desyllas. Robert Nozick's commentary on Locke's theory of homesteading contains two genuinely sharp insights into the problem of children's rights: that Locke's God-as-creator argument conceded the principle that children are ownable rather than refuting it, and that Locke's same move undermined any causal grounding for parental responsibility. Yet having identified the problem so clearly, Nozick refused to do the work of solving it — leaving the homework for someone else and, in later writing, drifting into shallow speculations about children as extensions of their parents. This essay walks through Nozick's insights, his refusal to put forward his own theory, and what his stance reveals about a philosopher who preferred clever exploration to firm conclusions. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:36 Nozick's First Insight: Locke Conceded That Children Are Ownable 4:36 Nozick's Second Insight: Locke Denied Causal Parental Responsibility 5:56 What Did Nozick Argue About Parental Obligations? 7:13 What Did Nozick Argue About Children's Rights? 10:19 Maybe Nozick Just Didn't Care First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2025/2/26/a-critique-of-nozicks-comments-on-parental-obligations-and-childrens-rights on 26 February 2025.

Article only version An AI narration of the article 'What Is The Libertarian Theory of Parental Obligations?' by Jake Desyllas. This article examines four competing philosophical theories of the parental role within a libertarian framework: parental ownership, parenting as charity, parenting as voluntary social contract, and causal parental responsibility. It critically analyzes each theory, evaluating its logical implications—particularly concerning the legitimacy of enforceable parental obligations—and its compatibility with libertarian principles. The article argues that the first three theories are unsound and incompatible with libertarianism. In contrast, it defends the theory of causal parental responsibility as the only sound framework consistent with libertarian philosophy, grounding enforceable parental obligations in the creation of peril. This analysis seeks to resolve long-standing debates and establish a coherent libertarian theory of parental obligation. Chapters: 0:00 Abstract 1:00 Introduction 3:06 The Theory of Parental Ownership 7:29 The Theory of Parenting as Charity 17:33 The Theory of Parenting as Voluntary Social Contract 24:19 The Theory of Causal Parental Responsibility 36:30 Parental Obligations in Contemporary Libertarian Thought 41:06 Conclusion First published at https://jls.mises.org/article/141458-what-is-the-libertarian-theory-of-parental-obligations on 1 July 2025.

An AI narration of the article 'You Cannot Give Up Parental Obligations' by Jake Desyllas. Parental obligations exist because creating a child places that child in a state of peril, and the parents are the ones causally responsible for that peril. From this foundation, Jake draws an unsettling conclusion: those obligations cannot be legitimately given up. Through carefully constructed thought experiments — a bonfire that endangers a neighbour's house, a swimmer pushed into a lake — he shows that delegating the task to someone else does not erase the original obligation. The argument cuts across unintended parenthood, adoption, and gamete donation, with implications many will find uncomfortable. If parents cannot legitimately absolve themselves of their obligations, what does that mean for the practices and institutions we have built around the idea that they can? Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:33 Unintended Parenthood 5:45 Parents Who Give Up Their Child For Adoption 10:04 Gamete Donors/Sellers 11:47 Conclusion First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2024/10/8/you-cannot-give-up-parental-obligations on 8 October 2024.

An AI narration of the article 'A Critique of Rothbard's Theory Of Parental Ownership' by Jake Desyllas. Self-ownership is a foundational principle of libertarian philosophy — but does it extend to children? Murray Rothbard rejected outright ownership of children, yet defended a "limited" parental ownership on homesteading grounds. This essay traces the contradiction in Rothbard's position and argues the correct framing: parents hold obligations to their children, not ownership rights, and children are self-owners from the moment they are created. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:35 Rothbard's Conflicting Arguments on Parental Ownership 4:47 Individuals Cannot Be Homesteaded 7:33 Rothbard's Two Models Of Limited Parental Ownership 9:57 What Was Rothbard Trying To Achieve? 13:30 Parental Ownership Rights Are Merely Asserted 14:45 The Core Premise At Fault 15:34 The Correct Formulation Of The Parental Role First published at https://www.jakedesyllas.com/blog/2024/12/29/a-critique-of-rothbards-theory-of-parental-ownership on 29 December 2024.

The State's Drive to Destroy the Family: Institutional Logic and Time Preference A presentation by Jake Desyllas at the 2026 Austrian Economics Research Conference held at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.

A presentation by Jake Desyllas at the 2026 Libertarian Scholars Conference held at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.

A presentation by Jake Desyllas at the 2025 Libertarian Scholars Conference held at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama. The article of this talk is at https://jls.mises.org/article/141458-what-is-the-libertarian-theory-of-parental-obligations

Presentation at Freedom Fest 2023 in Memphis by Jake Desyllas.

Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms Full Audiobook (Unabbridged) by Jake Desyllas Forget searching for the right job—start building a life in which you don't need a job. A job-free life is possible, and you have options about how to achieve it. This book provides real-world examples of people who have successfully quit the rat race using four different strategies: extreme saving, unjobbing, lifestyle businesses, and startups. Whether you want to achieve financial independence and retire early, or simply never work for anyone else again, this book provides an essential guide to the different lifestyle-design strategies open to you. An inspiring and concise introduction to job freedom and financial independence, by someone who has achieved both.

Becoming an Entrepreneur: How to Find Freedom and Fulfillment as a Business Owner  Full Audiobook (Unabridged) by Jake Desyllas Successful entrepreneur Jake Desyllas demystifies entrepreneurship, providing a cheerful and inspiring call to action for those who yearn to break free. Becoming an Entrepreneur is unique in its focus on the psychological dimensions of starting a business. Using personal examples, Desyllas approaches this topic with insight and sensitivity, showing you how to overcome the mindset of "employee conditioning" and find fulfillment by creating an enterprise in line with your values. Readers will learn how to reach profitability, remove themselves from the daily grind, and achieve personal and professional freedom as a business owner. Becoming an Entrepreneur is a short, jargon-free guide, packed with solid advice that you can start using today to build and manage your own business. By the time you've finished reading this book, you'll understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and have a set of timeless principles that can you use in any business situation. If you're ready to jailbreak your career and lifestyle, Becoming an Entrepreneur will set you on the right path.

A listener conversation about communication and mindfulness. Originally released in 2018 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A discussion with a listener about tax strategies and financial freedom. The previous episodes of TVL referenced are episodes 209 and 210 with Joshua Sheats from the Radical Personal Finance Podcast. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A discussion with listeners about making a big change in life. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A conversation with listeners about the challenge of being an individual versus finding community. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.  

Jake Desyllas interviewed on the Freecast podcast about his childhood and intellectual development. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A listener conversation originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.  

A listener conversation. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.  

A continuation of the discussion about cash in investing that I started on TVL Episode 297. Here are a couple of books for further reading: Fail Safe Investing by Harry Browne is a simple introduction to the permanent portfolio The Permanent Portfolio by Craig Rowland has a detailed discussion about cash. Originally released in 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A bonus episode about how to do a daily task review. If you implement this practice, you can start the day like a rocket launching. Originally released in June 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

This episode is part 2 of How To Sort Your Life Out. You can find Part 1 in episode 295 of The Voluntary Life. Originally released in June 2017 as a bonus episode for supporting listeners.

A special episode about the end of The Voluntary Life podcast.

An update about how my approach to travel and minimalism has changed since becoming a parent. From an interview on the World Wanderers Podcast. Show Notes: The World Wanderers Podcast Xolo.io for managing your Estonian E Residency company (use my referral code "Jake") Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

A chapter from the audiobook of Job Free by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

Part 2 of the audiobook of Negotiate For Mutual Profit by Jake Desyllas. Part 1, which covered constructive communication, can be found in TVL Episode 371. Part 2, in this episode, covers the win-win negotiation method, principles, and good habits. Show Notes: TVL Episode 371: Negotiate For Mutual Profit Audiobook Part 1 Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

An overview of the topics covered in The Voluntary Life, why I focus on these topics, and what you can get from them. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

A discussion of the lessons that can be taken from Jim Paul's book, What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars. Show Notes: What I Learned Losing a Million Dollars by Jim Paul Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

What are the assumptions used in "tiger" parenting, and what is the goal? This episode is a review of The Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.     

How do you know whether you have enough money to live from your investments? What if you stop working and then find out that you don't have enough? This episode is a discussion with a listener about these questions. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

Ray Dalio is a well-known billionaire investor and hedge fund manager. This episode is a review of his book Principles: Life And Work. Show Notes: Principles by Ray Dalio TVL Episode 244 Thinking Rationally Part 2: Imaginary Creatures and Machines Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

A chapter from the audiobook Job Free by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

How much risk should you take when investing? Is the Permanent Portfolio approach too risk-averse? Here's a great discussion from a recent livestream. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

What is it like to visit a meetup about the philosophy of objectivism? Here is my experience! This is a bonus episode for patrons originally recorded in early 2018.  Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

This episode is about another four ideas that I think are life-changing. The ideas are: quiet wealth, parent effectiveness, digital minimalism, and argumentation ethics. I explain why these ideas can have such a positive impact and where you can read about them. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley TVL 183 Financial Independence Part 3: Buy Status Symbols or Buy Your Freedom Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon  Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport  The Economics and Ethics of Private Property by Hans-Hermann Hoppe A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism by Hans-Hermann Hoppe Argumentation Ethics and Liberty: A Concise Guide by Stephan Kinsella Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

A chapter from the audiobook of Job Free by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

Should you use productivity systems like Getting Things Done (GTD) for your work or apply it to your whole life? Here's a discussion with a listener. Show Notes: TVL 347 Why I Am Passionate About Productivity Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

Highlights from two livestream conversations with listeners about the challenges of living with purpose. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency  

A chapter from Becoming An Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

A discussion with supporting listeners about the permanent portfolio investment strategy. How would assets like real estate would be tackled by the permanent portfolio? Why not use international stocks in a PP? Listen to the episode to hear these questions answered. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

A listener asks if he has to choose between financial independence and having children. Here's a response, including some fascinating data about the wider costs and benefits of having kids. Highlights from two bonus episodes.  Show Notes: Bonus Episode 35: Do You Have To Choose Between FI and Kids? Bonus Episode 41: Costs And Benefits Of Having Kids Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Selfish Reasons To Have More Kids by Bryan Caplan How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Child? by Go Curry Cracker  

A chapter from the audiobook of Job Free by Jake Desyllas Show Notes: Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback

Many self-improvement lifestyle changes have a side effect. Whether your are adopting extreme saving, perpetual travel, peaceful parenting, or other changes discussed in previous episodes, the side effect may be to disrupt your relationship. Listen to this episode to find out more. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency TVL Episode 298: Your Life Is Not On Loan  

Two conversations with supporting listeners about the appeal of the philosophy of Stoicism.  Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency  

A chapter from Becoming An Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Becoming an Entrepreneur by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback Job Free by Jake Desyllas Audiobook, eBook, Paperback  

This episode is about four life-changing ideas. I explain why these ideas can have such a positive impact and where you can read about them. Over the coming months I will be hosting a series of livestream discussions for supporting listeners on life-changing ideas relating to The Voluntary Life. This episode explains the topics of the first four sessions. Show Notes: Support TVL on Patreon and get bonus episodes and other rewards Support TVL on BitBacker with cryptocurrency Getting To Yes by Fischer and Ury — Principled Negotiation Livestream on June 23rd Join the TVL Mailing List for a free copy of Negotiate For Mutual Profit by Jake Desyllas Getting Things Done by David Allen — Productivity Systems Livestream on July 28th Instead of Education by John Holt  — Unschooling Livestream on August 18th Fail-Safe Investing by Harry Browne — Fail-Safe Investing Livestream on September 15th