The Curious Task
Institute for Liberal Studies
We explore philosophy, politics, economics, and other ideas from a classical liberal perspective.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 30, 2022 • 54min
Peter Jaworski - What Is The Ought-State Gap?
Alex speaks with frequent guest Peter Jaworski about the gap between a moral obligation and the expectation that some specific institution ought to be the one to realize that moral obligation - especially an institution like the state.
Nov 23, 2022 • 1h 9min
Christy Horpedahl - How Can Books Advance Liberal Society?
Sabine speaks with Christy Horpedahl about the entrepreneurial spirit that imbues Penelope Fitzgerald's "The Bookshop".
Nov 16, 2022 • 1h 29min
Alex Aragona - What Is Classical Liberalism (According To Our Host)?
Sabine speaks with the host of the Curious Task Alex Aragona to find out more about him, especially what he considers classical liberalism to be in its essence.
Nov 9, 2022 • 1h 8min
Jayme Lemke - Who Was Elinor Ostrom?
Alex speaks with Jayme Lemke about the life, work, and legacy of American Nobel Prize-winning political economist Elinor Ostrom.
References
1. “Elinor Ostrum and the Bloomington School: Building a New Approach to Policy and Social Sciences” by Jayme Lemke and Vlad Tarko
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Bloomington-School-Building/dp/0228004152
2. Elinor Ostrum Publications
Link: https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/library/bibliographies/ostrom-elinor.html
3. Elinor Ostrum Fellowship, Mercatus Centre
Link: https://www.mercatus.org/students/elinor-ostrom-fellowship
Nov 2, 2022 • 45min
Thomas Bunting - What Can Baseball Tell Us About Politics?
Alex speaks with Thomas Bunting about politics, democracy, social progress and more as they relate to baseball and athletics more broadly.
Oct 26, 2022 • 54min
Edward Slingerland - How Has Alcohol Influenced Civilization?
Alex speaks with Edward Slingerland about the dance that most civilizations have done with alcohol and the delicate balance between worshipping its creative effects and fearing its dangerous consequences.
Oct 19, 2022 • 1h
Scott Scheall - Why Is Spontaneity Important For Liberalism?
Alex speaks with Scott Scheall about the importance of spontaneity for liberalism.
Oct 12, 2022 • 49min
Claudia Williamson - Does Culture Effect Economic Progress?
Alex speaks with Claudia Williamson about what economists mean by culture and how individualism and other elements of culture can effect the economic progress of nations, peoples and groups.
Oct 5, 2022 • 1h 2min
Rosemarie Fike - How Does Inequality Effect Women’s Wellbeing?
Sabine speaks with Rosemarie Fike about the relationship between women's rights and economic freedom and the disparities that persist in contemporary economies around the world.
Sep 28, 2022 • 1h 7min
John Wood Jr. - Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Sabine speaks with John Wood Jr. about political polarization in America and its effects on democracy, civil rights and activism today.
