The Curious Task

Kevin Vallier, an associate professor of philosophy at Bowling Green State University, dives into his book addressing the rising religious threats to liberalism. He discusses integralism's blend of church and state, along with its historical context. Vallier also examines the nuances of Islamic anti-liberalism and Sharia governance, highlighting potential democratic pathways. The conversation further explores Confucian critiques of liberalism and the complexities of engaging with religious beliefs in a modern political landscape.

In this episode, Matt speaks with Brian Dijkema of Cardus, about the moral limits of modern liberalism. Dijkema argues that while classical liberalism emerged from a tradition concerned with virtue and the common good, today’s liberalism often treats neutrality and technocratic governance as ends in themselves. They discuss the work of classical liberal theorists, Rawls' liberal vision, the legacy of Christian social thought, and how institutional renewal requires more than procedural fairness but rather a shared vision of the good. References: Brian Dijkema — Profile (Cardus) https://www.cardus.ca/personnel/brian-dijkema/ “Liberty, Equality, … Disintegration?” — Patrick Deneen in conversation with Brian Dijkema https://comment.org/liberty-equality-disintegration/ “Labor’s Conservative Heart” — Brian Dijkema (American Compass) https://americancompass.org/labors-conservative-heart/ Why Liberalism Failed — Patrick Deneen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Liberalism_Failed “The Ethics of Attention in an Age of Distraction” — Brian Dijkema https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1146&context=icctej Brian Dijkema — Contributor Archive (Convivium) https://www.convivium.ca/writers/bio/bdijkema/page/2/ Brian Dijkema — Articles at Comment Magazine https://comment.org/contributors/brian-dijkema/ “The Classical Liberal Diaspora” — Michael C. Munger https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/items/513d2184-ca95-4508-b4ef-f137a03b32f0   Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask  

In this episode from 2022, Alex speaks with Chandran Kukathas about the costs of limiting immigration and what effects there may be on policy if the question of who counts as an immigrant is itself unclear. References 1. “Immigration and Freedom” by Chandran Kukathas Link: https://www.amazon.com/Immigration-Freedom-Chandran-Kukathas/dp/0691189684  

In this conversation from 2020, Alex Aragona chats with Pete Boettke as he dives into what the curious task of economics is and relates it back to the work of Friedrich Hayek. References from Episode 40 with Pete Boettke You can purchase Pete Boettke’s book on F.A. Hayek on Amazon Canada here Check out Pete Boettke’s economics blog here

In this episode, Matt speaks with legal scholar Bruce Pardy about the deep tension between freedom and virtue. Pardy argues that “freedom people” - classical liberals and libertarians - see virtue as something that can only emerge when individuals are free to choose, while “virtue people” believe virtue must come first, even if enforced by the state. They explore the limits of state neutrality, city planning, drug policy, and the rise of authoritarian instincts across both the right and the left. Pardy explains why a truly free society is risky - and why that risk is necessary for genuine virtue and responsibility. References: “Freedom and Virtue: Friends or Enemies?” — Bruce Pardy (Brownstone Institute) https://brownstone.org/articles/freedom-and-virtue-friends-or-enemies/ Bruce Pardy — Profile (Fraser Institute) https://www.fraserinstitute.org/profile/bruce-pardy Bruce Pardy — Author Page (The Epoch Times) https://www.theepochtimes.com/author/bruce-pardy The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek https://a.co/d/cp4rlD5 The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper https://a.co/d/iVwmVvs Thanks to Our Patrons including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support The Curious Task, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask  

In this episode, Alex speaks with political theorist Ben Woodfinden about the meaning and complexity of Canadian conservatism. Drawing on his essay “A Tory Impulse and Anti-Laurentian Ideas Drive Canadian Conservatism”, Woodfinden explains why conservatism in Canada is not a single rigid doctrine but a pluralistic network of regionally rooted traditions — from prairie populism and Western anti-elitism to Ontario’s old Toryism and Quebec’s nationalist strands. They unpack Canada’s unique confederation story, the idea of the Laurentian elite, and how any coherent conservatism must remain a coalition rooted in local distinctiveness and historical context. References “A Tory Impulse and Anti-Laurentian Ideas Drive Canadian Conservatism” – Ben Woodfinden (The Hub) https://thehub.ca/2022/08/17/ben-woodfinden-a-tory-impulse-and-anti-laurentian-ideas-drive-canadian-conservatism/ “Canada’s aspiring populists aren’t actually all that radical” – Ben Woodfinden (The Hub) https://thehub.ca/2022/05/27/canadas-aspiring-populists-arent-actually-all-that-radical/  “King Charles III and the glorious weirdness of Canada's monarchy” – Ben Woodfinden  https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ben-woodfinden-king-charles-iii-and-the-glorious-weirdness-of-canadas-monarchy  Ben's contributions to The Hub https://thehub.ca/author/benwoodfinden/  “Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism” by George Grant https://a.co/d/d0NQs95  “The Crooked Timber of Humanity” by Isaiah Berlin https://a.co/d/6l1wq3d  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 2023, Alex speaks with Professor Jacob Levy about the concept of neutrality within the history of liberalism and how many historical thinkers have approached the subject within that tradition.  Episode Notes: Michael Oakeshott on “adverbial rules” https://lawliberty.org/forum/michael-oakeshott-on-the-rule-of-law-and-the-liberal-order/  John Locke’s religious beliefs https://rb.gy/1yg43  Heresy of Americanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americanism_(heresy)  Deirdre McCloskey’s Bourgeois Virtues Thesis https://www.deirdremccloskey.com/docs/bv_selection.pdf  Ronald Dworkin “Liberalism” https://www.scribd.com/document/313373358/Ronald-Dworkin-Liberalism#  Stephanie Slade, "Must Libertarians Care About More Than the State?" https://reason.com/2022/03/19/two-libertarianisms/  Alexis De Toqueville’s concerns about the rising liberal democratic order https://www.economist.com/schools-brief/2018/08/09/de-tocqueville-and-the-french-exception  John Stuart Mill “On Liberty” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Liberty 

Episode Summary: Matt Bufton is joined by Bill Wirtz of the Consumer Choice Centre to explore why governments often crack down on fun—from drinking and smoking to gambling and vaping. They dive into the cultural and political roots of paternalistic policies, how public health rhetoric masks deeper control impulses, and why Canada offers a revealing case study in state-imposed virtue. Wirtz also highlights how prohibitionist instincts persist even when evidence contradicts their effectiveness. References “Children Are the Future: Authoritarianism, Culture War and Making Model Citizens” by Alan Elrod https://www.liberalcurrents.com/children-are-the-future-authoritarianism-culture-war-and-making-model-citizens/ That Which is Seen and That Which is Not Seen by Frédéric Bastiat https://oll.libertyfund.org/title/bastiat-selected-essays-on-political-economy#lf0181_head_009 The Fun Police – Podcast Series by Bill Wirtz https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/fun-police/id1714265675 World Health Organization – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control https://fctc.who.int/ Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose” (PBS Series) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dngqR9gcDDw&list=PLt27lKoC5LS4wbD28Jkv95UUm9H7wbVO4 Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

Marc-William Palen, a historian at the University of Exeter and author of Pax Economica, delves into the evolution of left-wing visions of free trade from the 19th century to the Cold War. He highlights key movements like the Anti-Corn Law League and figures such as Marx. The conversation reveals how feminist ideologies and Christian pacifism intersected with economic principles, while also critiquing protectionist policies. Palen advocates for a reexamination of leftist approaches to globalization, stressing their relevance in today's economic debates.

In this conversation from 2022, Alex speaks with Russ Roberts about the nature of education and how we should rethink it in today's world. This is a special episode being released in conjunction with this week's episode of Econtalk.  References 1. The Center for Experiential Learning at Washington University Link: https://olin.wustl.edu/student-resources/center-for-experiential-learning.php#:~:text=The%20Center%20for%20Experiential%20Learning,Driven%E2%84%A2%20practice%20and%20application.  2. EconTalk Podcast Link: https://simplecast.econtalk.org/  3. “How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness” by Russ Roberts Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life/dp/1591847958