The Curious Task

Alex speaks with David D'Amato about the modern concept of intellectual property and how such a thing could exist at all in a free society.  References: Copying is not theft cartoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeTybKL1pM4 

Alex speaks with Jeremy Horpedahl about the unusual political alliance between Baptists and Bootleggers - both figuratively and literally - and what these ties can tell us about public choice economics.   Sources Referenced: Horpedahl, Jeremy. "Bootleggers and Baptists Revisited: A Reply to Critics." Journal of Law and Economics, vol. 62, no. 2, Oct. 2019, pp. 557-576. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26546700. Regulation (Cato Institute Journal) Spring 2021 issue "Not So Unlikely Coalitions" article by Thomas W. Hazlett in the Regulation (Cato Institute Journal) Spring 2021 issue.  

Alex speaks with Scott Beyer about the insights he's gleaned from travelling the world in search of the most market-friendly urban centers and what other countries can teach us about central planning, solutions to homelessness, and more.  References 1. The Market Urbanist Website Link: https://www.marketurbanist.com/  2. Scott’s previous episode “What Is Market Urbanism?” on The Curious Task podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-33-scott-beyer-%e2%80%94-what-is-market-urbanism/  3. “Scott Beyer’s Market Urbanism World Trip” by Market Urbanist Link: https://www.marketurbanist.com/scott-beyer-market-urbanism-world-trip  4. “Startup Cities Tour” by Market Urbanist Link: https://www.marketurbanist.com/startup-city  5. “Barrios Tropicales: The Making of Green Neighborhoods” by Scott Beyer Link: https://catalyst.independent.org/2023/02/20/barrios-tropicales/

Alex speaks with Brandon Turner about the nature of conservatism and whether or not it constitutes an ideology, the rate of change within conservative thought, and the relationship between conservatism and liberalism. References 1. “Conservatism, Ideology, Skepticism” by Brandon Turner Link: https://digital.sandiego.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=jcli  2. “The Conservative Sensibility” by George F. Will  Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Conservative-Sensibility-George-F-Will/dp/0316480932  3. “Conservatism: A Rediscovery” by Yoram Hazony  Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Conservative-Rediscovery-Yoram-Hazony/dp/1684511097

Alex speaks with Rachel Lomasky about hot-button issues surrounding machine learning and artificial intelligence and the limitations and definitions of each, especially when it comes to ethical decision-making.  References 1. Rachel’s Articles, Law&Liberty  Link: https://lawliberty.org/author/rachel-lomasky/  2. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Machine Learning” by Columbia Engineering Link: https://ai.engineering.columbia.edu/ai-vs-machine-learning/  3. “Transcending Technopessimism” by Rachel Lomasky  Link: https://lawliberty.org/transcending-technopessimism/

Alex speaks with Geoff Sigalet about Western Alienation and the events that led to the Alberta Sovereignty Act becoming law in Canada in December of 2022.  References 1. “Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act” by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Link: https://www.assembly.ab.ca/assembly-business/bills/bill?billinfoid=11984&from=bills 2. “Opinion: Alberta’s Sovereignty Act is constitutional but it needs nuance” by Jesse Hartery and Geoffrey Sigalet Link: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/alberta-sovereignty-act-constitutional-but-needs-nuance

As you think about your New Year's resolutions, take another listen to Alex's conversation from May 2020 with Russ Roberts as he talks about the ways in which the ideas of Adam Smith can still change your life, even so many years later.   References from The Curious Task Special Episode 14 with Russ Roberts  You can purchase Russ Roberts’ book How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life at Amazon Canada here You can read the Theory of Moral Sentiments for free on the Online Library of Liberty here

Alex, Sabine and Matt reflect on the year that was 2022. References 1. Christy Horpedahl’s episode “How Can Books Advance Liberal Society” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-163-christy-horpedahl-how-can-books-advance-liberal-society/  2. Russ Robert’s episode “What’s Wrong With Education?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-136-russ-roberts-what-s-wrong-with-education/  3. Lauren Hall’s episode “What’s Wrong with Modern Healthcare?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-19-lauren-hall-%e2%80%94-whats-wrong-with-modern-healthcare/  4. Edwards Slingerland’s episode “How Has Alcohol Influenced Civilizations?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-159-edward-slingerland-how-has-alcohol-influenced-civilization/  5. Jayme Lemke’s episode “Who Was Elinor Ostrum?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/episode-201-jayme-lemke-who-was-elinor-ostrom/  6. Emily Chamlee-Wright’s episode “Why Work to Advance Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-150-emily-chamlee-wright-why-work-to-advance-liberalism/  7. Sarah Skwire’s episode “Can Literature Influence Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-152-sarah-skwire-can-literature-influence-liberalism/  8. Will Clare Roberts’s episode “What Was Marx’s Relation to Liberalism?” of The Curious Task Episode Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-124-will-clare-roberts-what-was-marx-s-relation-to-liberalism/

In their conversation from December 2019, Alex Aragona talks with Lauren Hall as she explores the problems with modern healthcare systems and some of the possible remedies. References 1. “The Medicalization of Birth and Death” by Lauren K. Hall Link: https://www.amazon.com/Medicalization-Birth-Death-Lauren-Hall/dp/1421433338  2. “Midwifery Licensing: Medicalization of Birth and Special Interests” by Steven Horowitz and Lauren Hall Link: https://www.mercatus.org/research/working-papers/midwifery-licensing-medicalization-birth-and-special-interests  3. “Caroline Malatesta opens up about birth trauma, bait-and-switch advertising of Alabama hospital” by Anna Claire Vollers Link: https://www.al.com/living/2016/08/malatesta_opens_up_about_birth.html  4. Jessica Flanigan’s episode “Should We Legalize All Drugs?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-9-jessica-flanigan-%e2%80%94-should-we-legalize-all-drugs/

Alex speaks with Matt Bufton about Canada's unique approach to power, monarchy, and government and how happy accidents have led to one of the best-governed and most free countries on earth being ruled by a King - at least symbolically.  References 1. “The Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament: Parliamentary Democracy Defended or Endangered?” by Andrew Heard Link: https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Governor-Generals-Decision-to-Prorogue-Parliament.pdf  2. Fraser Institute Link: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/  3. “When Jean Chretien wouldn’t ‘pass the torch’ 20 years ago” by CBC Archives Link: https://www.cbc.ca/archives/when-jean-chr%C3%A9tien-wouldn-t-pass-the-torch-20-years-ago-1.5480490 4. Victor M. Muniz-Fraticelli’s episode “Is Monarchy Absurd?” of The Curious Task Podcast Link: https://thecurioustask.podbean.com/e/ep-112-victor-m-muniz-fraticelli-is-monarchy-absurd/