The Glenn Show TGS Live: Seeing the Future in Thomas Sowell's Legacy
Clifton Duncan, an actor-writer known for his one-man show on Thomas Sowell, shares his inspiring experiences from a recent conference honoring Sowell. He discusses the profound impact of meeting Justice Clarence Thomas, emphasizing the warmth and resilience he observed. Duncan also reflects on Sowell's work ethic and discipline, revealing how it reignited his passion for artistic endeavors. The conversation reveals a promising resurgence of interest in Sowell’s ideas among younger generations, highlighting the intellectual legacy he leaves behind.
01:04:55
Green Room Conversation About Education
- Glenn Loury unexpectedly overheard Condoleezza Rice and Clarence Thomas discussing education for poor kids in the green room at the Sowell conference.
- Thomas Thomas argued the Court would bless race-aware programs aimed at educating poor Black children as a compelling state interest.
Thick Meritocracy Frames Fair Selection
- Glenn Loury defines 'thick meritocracy' as caring about both selection and the social formation of merit.
- Thick meritocracy demands leveling formation processes so selections reflect fair opportunity, not just credentials.
Emulate Stoicism And Rigor
- Clifton Duncan recommends observing intellectual rigor and resilience as models for personal discipline.
- He advises artists to adopt Sowell's stoicism and protect work from reputational noise.
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Intro
00:00 • 39sec
Organizing the Sowell Conference
00:39 • 2min
Glenn's Lectures on Sowell's Economics
02:56 • 3min
Notable Attendees and Global Reach
05:46 • 3min
Sowell's Background and Intellectual Journey
08:36 • 3min
Sowell's Views on Opportunity and Culture
11:13 • 2min
Green Room Encounter: Thomas Sowell via Live Feed
13:34 • 1min
Essay Contest Winners and the Future
14:40 • 1min
What Condoleezza Rice and Clarence Thomas Discussed
16:08 • 48sec
Justice Thomas on Race-Conscious Programs for the Poor
16:56 • 3min
Thick vs Thin Meritocracy
19:36 • 1min
Defining Selection and Formation
20:42 • 2min
Arguing for Thick Meritocracy
22:26 • 3min
Introducing Clifton Duncan
25:39 • 29sec
Clifton Duncan's First Impressions
26:08 • 2min
Meeting Justice Thomas and Observing Stoicism
27:57 • 57sec
Sowell's Work Ethic and Discipline
28:54 • 2min
Younger Attendees and Sowell's Resurgence
31:22 • 3min
Glenn on Sowell's Majestic Stoicism
33:57 • 2min
Artistic Inspiration from Sowell's Discipline
35:29 • 3min
Where to Follow Clifton Duncan's Work
38:52 • 3min
Glenn's Research on Sowell's Books
42:13 • 2min
Hayek's Influence and Knowledge Problems
43:48 • 2min
Sowell's Trilogies on Culture and Vision
45:52 • 3min
Constrained vs Unconstrained Visions
48:51 • 4min
Stephen Pinker's Luncheon and Vision Dialogue
52:45 • 2min
Methodological Differences with Sowell
54:46 • 4min
Philosophical Differences on Market Limits
58:35 • 3min
Acknowledging Market Failures and Interventions
01:02:02 • 2min
Audience Question: Conservatives' Intellectual Errors
01:04:03 • 41sec
#1336
• Mentioned in 22 episodes
A conflict of visions
Thomas Sowell
In this book, Thomas Sowell explores the fundamental differences in visions of human nature that underlie many political and ideological disputes.
He identifies two primary visions: the 'constrained' vision, which sees human nature as inherently self-centered and limited by systemic processes, and the 'unconstrained' vision, which views human nature as malleable and perfectible through societal intervention.
Sowell argues that these visions shape opinions on a wide range of issues, from justice and equality to power and social institutions.
The book blends history, economics, philosophy, and law to provide a comprehensive understanding of these conflicting visions and their implications for political thought and action.
#44
• Mentioned in 188 episodes
The Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith
Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics.
The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit.
It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets.
Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces.
The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.
#10647
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Migrations and Cultures
Thomas Sowell
#781
• Mentioned in 33 episodes
The Blank Slate
Steven Pinker
#1121
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
The Language Instinct
How the Mind Creates Language
Steven Pinker
In this book, Steven Pinker argues that language is an innate human ability, produced by evolution to solve the problem of communication among social hunter-gatherers.
He explains how language works, how children learn it, how it changes, and how the brain computes it.
Pinker refutes common ideas such as the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis and the notion that language is a human invention.
He supports his argument with examples from linguistics, psychology, and popular culture, emphasizing that language is a specialized 'mental module' rather than a mark of advanced intelligence.
The book also includes updates on advances in the science of language since its initial publication.
#8726
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Ethnic America
Thomas Sowell
string
#12612
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Race and Culture
Thomas Sowell
#6871
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Conquests and Cultures
Thomas Sowell
#4649
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
The Vision of the Anointed
Thomas Sowell
In this book, Thomas Sowell critiques the social policies of the past thirty years, arguing that they are a result of a tainted vision held by elites, which he terms 'the anointed'.
Sowell contrasts this vision with the 'tragic vision', which recognizes the world as one of limited options and trade-offs.
He argues that the anointed replace facts and rational thinking with rhetorical assertions, leading to crises in education, crime, and family dynamics.
The book also examines how the anointed maintain their influence through institutions like universities, media, and the judiciary, and how their vision offers a special state of moral superiority to its adherents.
#5970
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
Intellectuals and society
A Study of Teachers in India
Kameshwar Choudhary
This book by Kameshwar Choudhary delves into the social and educational landscape of India, specifically examining the roles, influences, and challenges faced by teachers.
It provides an in-depth analysis of how teachers contribute to and interact with the broader societal fabric in India.
#10366
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Quest for Cosmic Justice
Thomas Sowell
#265
• Mentioned in 71 episodes
Das Kapital
Karl Marx
#3201
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Maverick!
The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace
Ricardo Semler
The book relates the management succession and increasingly unorthodox ethos of Semco.
Semler transformed the company by implementing radical policies such as allowing workers to set their own production quotas, practicing profit sharing down to the factory floor level, and simplifying business processes.
This approach led to significant success and made the book a worldwide bestseller.
#2462
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Knowledge and Decisions
Thomas Sowell
In 'Knowledge and Decisions,' Thomas Sowell examines how social and economic knowledge is transmitted through society and its impact on decision making.
The book is divided into two parts: 'Social Institutions' and 'Trends and Issues.
' Sowell argues against the centralization of decision-making power, advocating for decentralized decision making and criticizing the role of intellectuals and government agencies in distorting knowledge and decision-making processes.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding the incentives and constraints that influence decision makers and warns about the dangers of abstract and elitist social visions replacing actual knowledge.
The book won the 1980 Law and Economics Center Prize for its significant contribution to understanding the differences between market and government processes.
#5728
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
A Personal Odyssey
Thomas Sowell
A Personal Odyssey is a memoir by Thomas Sowell that chronicles his life from growing up in Harlem to serving in the Marines and attending the Ivy League.
It explores his transformation from a young Marxist to a prominent figure on the political right, detailing his experiences as a writer, teacher, and economist.
The book offers insights into his personal and professional evolution amidst challenging times.
Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.com
Last week’s conference in honor of Thomas Sowell was the culmination of a long year of anticipation, planning, reading, and thinking. In this long excerpt from my most recent livestream, I talk with my editor Mark Sussman about the conference events and my own contributions. I explain the importance of Friedrich Von Hayek to Sowell’s thought and work, and how Sowell extended Hayek’s work. The actor-writer Clifton Duncan drops in to talk about his experiences at the conference. And I recount a conversation that I sat in on between the former secretary of state and the Supreme Court justice that would leave their critics speechless. Legacies are about the resources—intellectual, material, and spiritual—the past leaves to the future. If what I saw over those two days is any indication, those of us who inherit Sowell’s legacy will be very rich indeed.
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