Dr. Steven Skultety - American Freedom, Aristotle, & the Beauty of Philosophy (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_920)

Nov 18, 2025

Dr. Steven Skultety, a philosophy professor and director of the Declaration of Independence Center at the University of Mississippi, delves into the essence of American freedom. He shares insights on the interplay between ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary American political thought. Skultety discusses the foundational principles of liberty, recommends essential readings from the Founding Fathers, and emphasizes the importance of Aristotle's methodologies. Their conversation also touches on how competitive cultural dynamics shaped great thinkers in history.

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INSIGHT

Center Founded To Recenter Liberty

Steven Skultety created the Declaration of Independence Center to rebalance campus emphasis toward liberty as well as justice.
The Center aims to teach the depth and legacy of the American notion of freedom across disciplines.

insights

INSIGHT

Rapid Growth Of Freedom Studies

The Freedom Studies program grew rapidly from 26 to ~150 students in a few semesters without heavy advertising.
The Center now supports minors, scholarships, and dedicated Freedom Studies classes to scale engagement.

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INSIGHT

Who Joins Freedom Studies

Freedom Studies students cluster in three groups: liberal-arts, business/entrepreneurship, and pre-law.
Most current students self-identify as philosophically conservative and favor conserving founding principles.

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Founding the Declaration of Independence Center

02:27 • 3min

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Freedom Studies Program Growth and Structure

05:57 • 3min

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Who Signs Up for Freedom Studies

09:00 • 4min

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Expanding Beyond Undergraduate Programs

12:41 • 2min

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Three Dimensions of Freedom

14:35 • 8min

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Is American Freedom Nature or Nurture?

22:20 • 6min

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Which Founders to Read First

28:30 • 4min

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Favorite Historical Figures and Intellectual Companions

32:19 • 1min

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Why Study Aristotle Today

33:41 • 10min

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Aristotle, Consilience, and Reductionism

43:50 • 10min

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Why Ancient Greece Produced Great Thinkers

53:24 • 6min

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Personal Regrets and Career Choices

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Steven's website at the University of Mississippi: https://olemiss.edu/profiles/skultety.php

Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom: https://olemiss.edu/independence/

We discuss American freedom, the Founding Fathers, philosophy, Aristotle, and the intellectual magic of ancient Greece among many issues.

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This clip was posted on November 18, 2025 on my YouTube channel as THE SAAD TRUTH_1941: https://youtu.be/jM3fxp0Lkok

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Dr. Gad Saad is a professor, evolutionary behavioral scientist, and author who pioneered the use of evolutionary psychology in marketing and consumer behavior. In addition to his scientific work, Dr. Saad is a leading public intellectual who often writes and speaks about idea pathogens that are destroying logic, science, reason, and common sense.

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