As part of an invited lecture series, I led several seminars on the topic The Best Arguments against Free-market Capitalism. The format is Socratic and the participants are professors at my host, Francisco Marroquín University. In this second seminar, we take up the arguments that: a) We live in a world of scarce resources, and […]
Two anti-capitalist arguments: scarcity and depravity (UFM seminar) Read More »
At Francisco Marroquín University, I led a series of seminars on the Best Arguments against Free-market Capitalism. The format is Socratic, with lively back-and-forth between me and an impressive group of UFM professors. In first session, we take up the argument that Free-market capitalism is dog-eat-dog. The video’s editor, Luis Barrueto, provides a useful thematic
“Capitalism is dog-eat-dog” — UFM seminar Read More »
A Brief History of Philosophy Humor alert: Being a compilation of student research, gently edited by Stephen Hicks, Rockford University. Is philosophy a waist of time? Ethical debates have been around for a long time, but nobody seems to have any answers. Ethnics are very important. Basically, what you do with your life comes down
A Student History of Philosophy (updated) Read More »
Two fun versions of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” song, one for math geeks and one for your inner accountant. Vi Hart’s clever doodle Gaussian Christmath song: And PNC Bank’s charming calculation of the cost to send your true love all of the gifts — partridges, pear trees, dancing ladies, the whole works. (For my
The twelve days of Christmath Read More »
What is the US economy? Introduction. Before blaming the economic crisis on either government regulation or free enterprise, we need to know what kind of economic system the U.S. had before the crisis. A survey of the relevant factors in identifying the degree of capitalism or socialism then in place. “Third Way” politics and its
The Financial Crisis Read More »
One of my talks at Francisco Marroquín University was on making sense of our mixed economy–an unwieldy combination of market and socialist elements. The 28-minute talk integrates themes from my intellectual heroes–Smith, Mill, Mises, Hayek, Rand, Popper, Friedman, Buchanan, and Tullock–and connects market economics, politics, ethics, history, and public choice to explaining our semi-coherent mixed
Seminar: Philosophy and the Evolution of the Mixed Economy Read More »
Following up on my post entitled “When was the financial sector deregulated?” Another crude measure of regulation or deregulation is to count the number of pages in the U.S. Federal Register. The Federal Register is the government’s daily publication of new and proposed rules. Some of the rules are trivial and some have large impact;
Deregulation? The Federal Register’s size Read More »
Some do, sort of. But most of its major representatives do not. Another example is GOP hopeful Newt Gingrich. In his 1984 book, Window of Opportunity, Gingrich attacks laissez-faire and proposes what he calls “opportunity society conservatism”: “The opportunity society calls not for a laissez-faire society in which the economic world is a neutral jungle
More: Do conservatives really value economic liberty? Read More »
During my visit to Francisco Marroquín University, I led a one-hour seminar on entrepreneurial ethics. Subtopics: * Three moral types: Carly, Tonya, and Jane. * Six questions in ethics. * Egoism, Altruism, and Predation. * Entrepreneurial ethics: entrepreneurial success and virtue. * Why hasn’t the case for liberty convinced everyone? * Entrepreneurial ethics in contrast
Seminar on entrepreneurial ethics Read More »
Philosophicalish Humor: What I Have Learned about the History of Philosophy from My Students. “Should I Marry You?” Answers From the Philosophers. Existentialism meets high-tech. From the Office of the Reproducer-General. Professor Walsh gives an “A” to a Jain monk. Computing’s environmental impact. The best footnote ever. Sinistromanualism. Zach Weiner’s cartoon metaphysics. On affairs with