The Curious Task

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 Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop by Serene Khader https://a.co/d/fFRt6op Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract by T.H. Green https://history.hanover.edu/texts/green.html Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/ The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/6YWK7bA The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Totalitarianism-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0156701537 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.  

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 Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias" https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY Canadaland https://www.canadaland.com/ The Hub https://thehub.ca/ The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/ 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.

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 "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/ Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553 "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086 "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 "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950 "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.  

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

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

Alex speaks with Neera Badhwar about her forthcoming paper, “There are Divinities in Liberal Market Societies Too,” exploring how liberal societies enable prosperity, intellectual virtue, and moral growth. Neera discusses key concepts like happiness and flourishing, critiques thinkers like Gerry Cohen, and reflects on the role of free markets and limited government in fostering human well-being. References "There are Divinities in Liberal Market Societies Too" by Neera Badhwar (forthcoming in Social Philosophy and Policy, 2025) https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-philosophy-and-policy "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0865970122 "If You're an Egalitarian, How Come You're So Rich?" by Gerry Cohen https://a.co/d/6NyLaC2 "The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money" by Bryan Caplan https://www.amazon.ca/Case-Against-Education-System-Money/dp/0691174652 World Values Survey https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/ World Happiness Report https://worldhappiness.report/ Human Progress Newsletter https://humanprogress.org/ Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Today, we're revisiting this special Christmas episode of The Curious Task from 2019. ---  Alex Aragona chats with Alex Tabarrok on this very special Christmas episode of The Curious Task as he explores whether gift giving is inefficient, and if there are better ways to give to others. References from Episode 21 with Alex Tabbarok You can watch a video of Alex Tabbarok and Tyler Cowen discuss gift giving here Giving to my Wild Self article can be found here

Alex speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac about the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), exploring its historical context, operational inefficiencies, and the potential for reforming its structure. Sabine draws on her co-authored report to outline economic benefits and practical reforms, while also critiquing the LCBO's moral and historical failings. The conversation highlights broader themes of government overreach, consumer choice, and economic modernization. References Sabine's article in the Spec entitled "The LCBO is an archaic system with an ugly history": https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/the-lcbo-is-an-archaic-system-with-an-ugly-history/article_4d18e1c1-2080-5c7d-be29-7ff72e3bba60.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&utm_campaign=user-share  "Modernizing Ontario’s Alcohol Retail System" by Sabine El-Chidiac and David Clement https://consumerchoicecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Modernize_Ontario_Report.pdf "Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity" by Thomas Babor et al. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/alcohol-no-ordinary-commodity-9780199551149 LCBO Historical Documents https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/index.aspx "Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health" by Peter Boyle et al. https://a.co/d/eoBTcI9 Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) Wholesale Model https://ocs.ca/ "Free to Choose: A Personal Statement" by Milton Friedman and Rose Friedman https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Choose-Personal-Statement-Milton/dp/0156334607  Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC) Model https://aglc.ca/ Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit patreon.com/curioustask.

Alex speaks with Danny Leroy about inflation in Canada, with a focus on the rising price of groceries. Danny explains how monetary expansion and government policies have driven up grocery prices and other costs, emphasizing the role of the Bank of Canada in creating money and the cascading effects this has on different sectors of the economy. Danny and Alex then discuss potential policy changes to address rising costs and improve the purchasing power of Canadians. References Danny Leroy's Publications Link: https://scholar.ulethbridge.ca/dannyleroy/publications  "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847  Milton Friedman on Greed (Donahue Show, 1979) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A Statistics Canada Data on Grocery Prices Link: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/topics-start/food-price  "Prices and Production" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://a.co/d/igCpqFX  Austrian Economics and the Boom-Bust Cycle Link: https://yipinstitute.org/article/boom-or-bust-the-austrian-theory-of-the-business-cycle  "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553 Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Matt speaks with Brian Albrecht about how policymakers can think more like economists by emphasizing the role of prices, trade-offs, and unintended consequences in shaping effective policies. Brian and Matt discuss tax policies, antitrust laws, and some very silly tariffs to illustrate the importance of applying economic reasoning to address societal challenges while minimizing inefficiencies. References Brian Albrecht's Substack, Economic Forces Link: https://substack.com/@briancalbrecht  "Rebellion, Rascals, and Revenue: Tax Follies and Wisdom Through the Ages" by Michael Keen and Joel Slemrod Link: https://a.co/d/94DlEoq  "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847 "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/0143105922 "Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy" by Thomas Sowell Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Basic-Economics-Common-Sense-Guide/dp/0465060730  "Antitrust Paradox: A Policy at War with Itself" by Robert H. Bork Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Antitrust-Paradox-Policy-Consumer-Welfare/dp/0029044561