In 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia', Robert Nozick presents a rigorous argument in favor of a minimal state, limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, and the enforcement of contracts. He critiques more extensive state activities as violations of individual rights and argues against more extreme views such as anarcho-capitalism. Nozick's work is influenced by John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Hayek, and it includes a theory of rights, a critique of John Rawls' 'A Theory of Justice', and a model of utopia. The book is a foundational text of libertarian thought and has been widely acclaimed for its philosophical richness and analytical argumentation[1][2][5].
In 'A Theory of Justice,' John Rawls develops a moral theory of justice as fairness, which is an alternative to utilitarianism. The theory is based on the social contract approach and uses the concept of the original position and the veil of ignorance to derive two principles of justice. The first principle, the greatest equal liberty principle, ensures that each person has an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all. The second principle, which includes the difference principle and the equal opportunity principle, states that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. Rawls's theory aims to reconcile liberty and equality in a well-ordered society.
In 'Zero to One,' Peter Thiel argues that true innovation comes from creating something entirely new, going from 'zero to one,' rather than incrementally improving existing ideas. He emphasizes the importance of vertical progress through technology and the benefits of monopoly in driving innovation. Thiel also discusses the need for long-term planning, the importance of finding the right co-founders, and the power law in startup success. The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to think critically and aim big to build the future[2][3][5].
In this book, Nick Bostrom delves into the implications of creating superintelligence, which could surpass human intelligence in all domains. He discusses the potential dangers, such as the loss of human control over such powerful entities, and presents various strategies to ensure that superintelligences align with human values. The book examines the 'AI control problem' and the need to endow future machine intelligence with positive values to prevent existential risks[3][5][4].
Michael Gibson is a co-founder of the Teal Fellowship and then built the investment firm 1517, both of which invest in young people without college degrees to build start ups. Before his academic apostasy, he was working towards a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Oxford. He has written on innovation and technology for MIT’s Technology Review, National Review, the Atlantic, and City Journal.
In this episode, we explore the correlation between entrepreneurs and people interested in philosophy, how people who aren’t on a traditional academic tract can get benefit of liberal arts through independent study.
This is Michael’s second appearance on the podcast. You can listen to the first episode here
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
2:08 - 1517 Annual Events
7:03 - Welcoming Controversial Topics
12:40 - The Correlation between Founders and Philosophy
23:53 - What Separates Philosophy from Science?
29:05 - The Politicization of Higher Education
32:03 - The Power of Hands on Experience for the Great Thinkers
38:20 - Is Philosophy Necessary for Building Things?
50:21 - Why Didn't Michael Explore Academia?
51:59 - Has the Study of Philosophy Helped Michael with is VC Work
54:44 - How Thinking Differently Helps You in Business
58:38 - Advice for Those Pulled to Philosophy
1:03:28 - Has Analytic Philosophy Reached it's Limit?
1:06:34 - How to Connect with Michael
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Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Michael Gibson: College is Dead. We Just Don’t Know it Yet
A Theory of Justice - John Rawls
Anarchy, State, and Utopia - Robert Nozick
Zero to One - Peter Thiel
Chariots of Philosophical Fire - Michael Gibson
Superintelligence - Nick Bostrom
Connect with Michael Gibson:
Twitter: @william_blake
Contact form: 1517.com
Connect with Hannah Frankman:
Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman
RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator
Website | http://hannahfrankman.com
Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.
The Hannah Frankman Podcast 
