Épisodes

  • Bart Wilson - What Do Economists Miss?
    Feb 26 2025

    Matt speaks with Bart Wilson about what economists often overlook in their analysis—specifically, the role of morality, human cooperation, and language in shaping economic behaviour. Wilson argues that mainstream economics tends to focus too much on scarcity and efficiency while neglecting the deeper social and moral foundations that make trade and prosperity possible. Drawing on his book Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human, he explores how concepts like property, reciprocity, and justice emerge from human relationships rather than being imposed from the top down.

    References:

    • Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human by Bart Wilson https://global.oup.com/academic/product/meaningful-economics-9780197758151?cc=us&lang=en&

    • The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/j0nL0mY

    • The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/iKwedtg

    • Knowledge and Decisions by Thomas Sowell https://a.co/d/cRgCwe4

    • The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance by Russell Roberts https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0262681358

    • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley https://a.co/d/a7vAUsi

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit our Patreon page.

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    50 min
  • Tim Thurley - Are Canada's Gun Policies Off-Target?
    Feb 19 2025

    Alex Aragona speaks with Tim Thurley about gun policy in Canada, discussing the current state of firearm regulations, the shift away from a past political consensus, and whether recent legislative changes are effectively targeting crime. They explore the role of licensing, background checks, and storage laws, as well as the impact of smuggled firearms and high-profile policy changes like Bill C-21 and the handgun freeze. Thurley argues that recent policy shifts focus on legal gun owners while failing to address the main sources of gun crime in Canada.

    References

    1. "Aiming Off Target: Gun Policy in Canada" by Tim Thurley & Noah Schwartz (Macdonald-Laurier Institute) https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/aiming-off-target-gun-policy-canada/

    2. "On gun control, Liberals opt for wedge politics over actual change" by Noah Schwartz https://nationalpost.com/opinion/noah-schwartz-on-gun-control-liberals-opt-for-wedge-politics-over-actual-change

    3. "More Guns, Less Crime" by John R. Lott Jr. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0226493660

    4. "The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things" by Barry Glassner https://a.co/d/4qXgBqf

    5. "The Origins and Development of Canada’s Firearms Laws" by R. Blake Brown https://a.co/d/bMb4zyV

    6. "Armed: New Perspectives on Gun Control" by Gary Kleck & Don B. Kates https://a.co/d/5xk3gUj

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

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    1 h et 41 min
  • Ethan Nadelmann - Is Vaping A Public Health Problem?
    Feb 12 2025

    Matt speaks with Ethan Nadelmann about vaping, e-cigarettes, and pouch nicotine alternatives to cigarettes within the broader context of health policy and the drug war. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding nicotine, harm reduction strategies, and how opposition to non-combustible nicotine mirrors past drug war policies. Ethan highlights international case studies, the role of public health organizations, and the influence of figures like Michael Bloomberg in shaping the global discourse - and misinformation - around alternatives to cigarettes.

    References

    1. "Thinking Seriously About Alternatives to Drug Prohibition" by Ethan Nadelmann https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20027122.pdf

    2. "The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction" (KAC Reports) https://gsthr.org/

    3. "High Price" by Carl Hart https://a.co/d/inDX5Gi

    4. "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein https://www.amazon.ca/dp/014311526X

    5. "Ending the War on Drugs: A Solution for America" by Dirk Chase Eldredge https://a.co/d/bIGQpJ6

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

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    56 min
  • Eric Schliesser - Do Liberals Focus Too Much On Freedom From Restrictions?
    Feb 5 2025

    Alex speaks with Eric Schliesser about the "freedom to" vs. "freedom from" debate in political theory, using Serene Khader’s book Faux Feminism as a central reference. They explore the historical distinction between negative and positive liberty, the role of hierarchy in structuring freedom, and how liberalism’s focus on removing restrictions can sometimes reinforce existing power structures. The discussion touches on feminist theory, liberal political thought, and broader critiques of market-based individualism.

    References

    1. Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop by Serene Khader https://a.co/d/fFRt6op

    2. Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract by T.H. Green https://history.hanover.edu/texts/green.html

    3. Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/

    4. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/6YWK7bA

    5. The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Totalitarianism-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0156701537

    6. Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Freedom-Milton-Friedman/dp/022673479X

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

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    1 h et 5 min
  • Ryan Thorpe and Matt Bufton - Is There A Role For A State Broadcaster?
    Jan 29 2025

    Alex Aragona moderates a discussion with Ryan Thorpe and Matt Bufton about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and its relevance in today’s world. They explore the CBC’s historical mission to promote Canadian culture and information, its struggles to meet its mandate, and the challenges posed by media fragmentation and perceived biases. The conversation also touches on the roles of private media, government funding, and the rise of independent outlets as alternatives to a state broadcaster.

    References

    1. Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X

    2. Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias" https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY

    3. Canadaland https://www.canadaland.com/

    4. The Hub https://thehub.ca/

    5. The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/

    6. The Tyee https://thetyee.ca/

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

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    52 min
  • Steve Davies - Why Is Politics Today So Weird?
    Jan 22 2025

    In this episode, host Matt Bufton interviews historian Steve Davies about the political realignment happening across the Western world. Steve explains how traditional divisions in politics, such as socialism versus capitalism, have been replaced by a new axis centered on nationalism versus globalism. He critiques both "national collectivism" and "technocratic liberal progressivism" while discussing the implications for classical liberalism. The conversation also touches on the influence of leaders like Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron, and explores what the future holds for liberal ideas in a shifting political landscape.

    References

    1. "The Great Realignment: Understanding Politics Today" by Steve Davies (Cato Institute) https://www.cato-unbound.org/2018/12/10/stephen-davies/great-realignment-understanding-politics-today/

    2. Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ

    3. "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553

    4. "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086

    5. "The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution" by Francis Fukuyama https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Political-Order-Prehuman-Revolution/dp/0374227349

    6. "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950

    7. "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847

    Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

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    55 min
  • Jacob Levy - Why Is Montesquieu Important For Liberalism?
    Jan 15 2025

    In this conversation from 2021, Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about Montesquieu's role in shaping contemporary political science, the American revolutionary project, and the role of the separation of powers as a bulwark against despotism.

    References

    1. “Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom” by Jacob Levy

    Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rationalism-Pluralism-Freedom-Jacob-Levy/dp/0198808917

    2. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy

    Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122

    3. “Montesquieu’s Constitutional Legacies” by Jacob Levy

    Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1117087

    4. “Beyond Publius: Montesquieu, Liberal Republicanism, and the Small-Republic Thesis” by Jacob Levy

    Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=739447

    5. “The Spirit of Laws” by Charles Baron de Montesquieu

    Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Spirit-Laws-Charles-Baron-Montesquieu/dp/1616405287#:~:text=The%20Spirit%20of%20Laws%2C%20first,by%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church.

    6. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes

    Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm

    7. “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke

    Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm

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    58 min
  • Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli - Is Monarchy Absurd?
    Jan 8 2025

    In this episode from 2021, Alex Aragona speaks with Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli about whether the monarchy might seem absurd, and whether a little absurdity can be a good thing.

    References

    1. “The Monarchy and the Constitution” by Vernon Bogdanor

    Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Monarchy-Constitution-Vernon-Bogdanor/dp/0198293348

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    57 min