Ayn Rand Institute Live!
265 episodes - English - Latest episode: 29 days ago - ★★★★★ - 96 ratingsAyn Rand Institute Live features a wide range of fascinating topics recorded at live events—all from the unique perspective of Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. ARI experts and guest speakers bring new insights to complex topical issues, such as freedom of speech and the Middle East, or delve into important subjects in philosophy, ethics, psychology, culture, the arts, and more.
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Episodes
Happiness Team Presentation by Tal Tsfany
March 29, 2024 15:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBHappiness Team is a life-changing workshop and accountability team, aimed to systematize the pursuit of happiness using Ayn Rand’s deep, life-serving discoveries. In this session, you’ll get started on the road to understanding who you are, what you want and how to get it. You’ll come away with a workbook of exercises and actionable practices for leveraging Objectivism toward achieving your own, independent happiness. Every journey begins with a single step. Take yours.Recorded live on July 4...
The Galileo Affair by Dan Schwartz
March 22, 2024 15:00 - 59 minutes - 82.1 MBThe Galileo Affair is widely viewed as the classic example of a scientific genius being persecuted by religious dogmatists. Yet, in recent decades, some philosophers and historians of science have put forward a new interpretation that defends the Church’s position philosophically and puts (at least some of) the blame for the conflict on Galileo. Is there any merit to this view? What actually led to Galileo’s persecution, censorship, trial, and house arrest? To address these questions, this ta...
Mickey Spillane’s Miami (and More) by Shosana Milgram
March 15, 2024 15:14 - 58 minutes - 80.3 MBAyn Rand admired Mickey Spillane as a writer and a crusader: “a brilliant literary talent” and a “moral absolutist.” Several of his novels, including the two-book series about Morgan the Raider (a pirate with an enigmatic past and mysterious motivations) were set partially or completely in Miami. One character, amazed at his first glimpse of the homes and hotels of the Miami skyline, asks: “How could men with their bare hands build such a place?” This talk, in addition to describing the stori...
Aristotle’s Method of Scientific Investigation by Gregory Salmieri
January 26, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 124 MBThis lesson explains Aristotle’s method of scientific investigation, focusing on Aristotle’s logical works—especially the Posterior Analytics. Salmieri discusses Aristotle’s view of the kinds of questions we seek to answer when we investigate; for example, the nature of definitions and their relationship to scientific demonstrations, and the formation of new concepts. This course includes a handout: https://courses.aynrand.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Greg_Salmieri-Aristotles_Theory_of_Kno...
Aristotle’s Theory of Universals by Gregory Salmieri
January 19, 2024 16:00 - 1 hour - 125 MBIn this lesson, Salmieri explains Aristotle’s theory of universals and how that theory makes possible scientific understanding (epistēmē) of this world based on sense-perception. The lesson explains that universal knowledge, for Aristotle, is a power to know particulars as falling under kinds. Salmieri concludes with a discussion of a famous chapter of the Posterior Analytics, in which Aristotle uses a battlefield metaphor to explain how we grasp universals. This course includes a handout: h...
Aristotle on the Different Types of Knowledge by Gregory Salmieri
January 12, 2024 18:11 - 1 hour - 123 MBIn this lesson, Salmieri discusses Aristotle’s view of the types and degrees of knowledge. In particular, he explains what is distinctive about the type of knowledge that Aristotle calls epistēmē (scientific understanding) and relates it to Objectivism’s view of the importance of thinking in principle. He also introduces Aristotle’s concept of technē (art, craft or skill) and explains why Aristotle regards both technē and epistēmē as superior to mere experience. This course includes a handou...
Stoicism and Objectivism on What (and How) to Value by Aaron Smith
January 05, 2024 16:00 - 1 hour - 84.4 MBThe ancient Stoics held that we suffer in life because we value the wrong things and/or have the wrong attitude toward our values. If we want to live the good life, they held, we need to radically change the way we value. Given the growing popularity of Stoicism in the culture today, it’s worth examining what this reorientation to values amounts to, and what it would mean to adopt it. This talk will explore both ancient and modern Stoic approaches to values from the perspective of Objectivism...
Augustine’s War Against Earthly Pride by Ben Bayer
December 29, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBSt. Augustine’s philosophy marked a decisive turning point in the history of the West, the first systematic repudiation of the ancient Greek philosophical outlook in favor of Christian religion. Augustine’s ethics was especially crucial. He fundamentally repudiated the content of pagan views of virtue even as he retained certain trappings of their framework. The most telling example was Augustine’s celebration of the virtue of humility, in defiance of the Greek virtue of pride. This talk will...
The Reading Wars Today by Sam Weaver
December 22, 2023 16:00 - 58 minutes - 80.3 MBAfter decades of debate, and despite the overwhelming strength of the evidence in favor of phonics, reading education is still a controversial topic in the United States. Many educators continue to resist phonics in favor of anti-conceptual methods that amount to not teaching reading at all. This talk will present the recent history and current state of the reading wars and examine the ideas behind the ongoing opposition to phonics. Discover the crucial link between the right ideas and happi...
Saving Math from Plato by Harry Binswanger
December 15, 2023 16:22 - 1 hour - 126 MBMathematics is the headquarters of Platonism—the reification of abstractions and the primacy of concepts over percepts. Even Euclid defined “line” as “breadthless length,” something not of this world, and the moderns define “one” in terms of nonbeing (the null set). In this lecture, drawing on a few incisive statements by Ayn Rand, Dr. Binswanger gives perceptually based definitions of key mathematical concepts, such as quantity, measurement, one, number, point, line, infinite, and mathematic...
Why We Are Losing Our Freedom of Speech by Peter Schwartz
December 08, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 119 MBFreedom of speech used to be an unquestioned value. Even as society endorsed the use of force in other realms, the individual’s right to express ideas freely was widely acknowledged. Today, that right is coming under increasing attack. Why? And what can we do to counter this ominous threat? Mr. Schwartz discusses the fundamental relation between force and the mind—and examines the modern philosophic premise that, by blurring the distinction between thought and action, leads to the suppression...
Happiness II: Objective Confidence by Jean Moroney
November 17, 2023 16:00 - 59 minutes - 81.1 MBAn important component of happiness is confidence in your future success. How is such confidence possible, especially with ambitious goals that involve significant risks? In this talk, Ms. Moroney will discuss how the Objectivist ethics and epistemology help you establish objective confidence that you will be successful. A companion to her previous talk, Happiness, this will be a self-contained discussion of topics including: How to conceptualize ambitious goals to foster creativity; the need...
How to Be an Earthly Idealist by Don Watkins
November 07, 2023 16:00 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MBMany are attracted to Objectivism for its idealism. But they often struggle to successfully use Objectivism as a guide for living on earth, and experience its ideals as a source of frustration, confusion, and guilt. In this talk, Don Watkins draws on his experience as Ayn Rand University’s Director of Coaching and Mentoring to discuss what gives rise to this problem—and practical strategies for overcoming it. Recorded at OCON on July 2, 2023, in Miami, Florida.
The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God by Robert Mayhew
November 03, 2023 15:00 - 59 minutes - 82.1 MBAnselm of Canterbury (11th century) was the first to present the ontological argument, purporting to demonstrate God’s existence through a mere analysis of the definition of God. Aquinas rejected the argument, but Descartes revived it. Kant was thought by many to deliver it a death blow, but it continues to be resuscitated. This lecture is an exercise in philosophical detection: Dr. Mayhew will present the argument and then explain Objectivism’s unique reasons for rejecting it as not merely f...
Moral Cognition: Telling Right from Wrong by Gregory Salmieri
October 31, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBWhat is the relationship between abstract moral principles (such as those that make up the Objectivist ethics) and the ability of people who do not (yet) grasp these principles to tell right from wrong? To what extent (and in what ways) can someone who doesn’t understand why something is good (or bad) know that it is good (or bad)? In this talk, Dr. Salmieri will address these questions and some of their implications for moral education, intellectual activism, and assessing ideological moveme...
Justice, Moral Judgment, and the Danger of Psychologizing by Onkar Ghate
October 27, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBAyn Rand’s novels and nonfiction essays contain a wealth of material on the psychological dimensions of philosophical ideas and principles. But in one of those essays she also cautions about the danger of “psychologizing.” We’ll explore aspects of how to extract the action-guiding value of the psychological dimensions of philosophical ideas that she highlights while avoiding the pitfall of psychologizing. Recorded at OCON on July 2, 2023, in Miami, Florida.
The Left’s Long War on Israel by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
October 24, 2023 15:00 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MBWhen it comes to Israel’s mortal enemies, the usual suspects are Arab authoritarian regimes, Iran, and the antisemitic far right. And yet, some of the most dangerous wannabe-destroyers of Israel have come from the left. Whether it has been communist states, or terrorist groups, or “peaceful” organizations, the left’s war on Israel has been long and determined. Delivered at OCON 2023 in Miami, Florida on July 3, 2023.
Living Objectively – Integrating Objectivity Into Your Every Day by Tara Smith
October 13, 2023 20:01 - 1 hour - 113 MBObjectivity isn’t simply a tool for concept-formation or analyzing arguments. Objectivity affects how you treat your friends, how you do your work, how you set your goals. This lecture probes objectivity’s role in everyday living. It considers ways that objectivity (or its lack) manifests itself in a range of domains and ways in which well-intended people can easily fall into non-objective practices. The stakes? Being objective is vital for fully flourishing. This talk was recorded at OCON 2...
How Objectivism Can Fuel Your Happiness by Tal Tsfany
August 25, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBObjectivism is a philosophy for living on earth. Happily. In this talk, ARI CEO Tal Tsfany will share concepts and actionable practices for leveraging Objectivism toward achieving the state of consciousness we call happiness. This interactive session will cover tools and techniques for answering questions such as “Who am I?” “What do I love?” What do I want?” “How do I get it?” and “What’s the point?” Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Inside ARU: Philosophy and Work with Keith Schacht
August 14, 2023 21:00 - 54 minutes - 74.5 MBAyn Rand University is an online school of philosophy whose mission is to educate our students about Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and to provide them with the intellectual, career and life guidance they need to flourish. In this clip, from the ARU course “Philosophy, Work and Business,” instructors Tal Tsfany, Onkar Ghate and Don Watkins talk to entrepreneur and inventor Keith Schacht about how to choose and pursue a fulfilling career. To learn more about ARU, visit university.aynrand.org.
Inside ARU: Philosophy and Work with Yaron Brook
August 11, 2023 21:00 - 54 minutes - 75.2 MBAyn Rand University is an online school of philosophy whose mission is to educate our students about Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and to provide them with the intellectual, career and life guidance they need to flourish. In this clip, from the ARU course “Philosophy, Work and Business,” instructors Tal Tsfany, Onkar Ghate and Don Watkins talk to bestselling author, speaker, and public advocate for Objectivism about how to pursue an intellectual career. To learn more about ARU, visit uni...
The Immorality of the U.S. Immigration System by Agustina Vergara Cid
August 04, 2023 15:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBOpponents of immigration often say those who want to come to America should “get in line” and follow the law. But the U.S. immigration system sets legal immigrants up for failure, and penalizes the best people who want to make America their home. The system is profoundly unjust both for immigrants and for Americans as well. Agustina Vergara Cid, an ARI Junior Fellow, will relate a number of immigration stories (including her own) in the context of the legal landscape that generates these inju...
Q&A Panel and Conclusion of Conference with Onkar Ghate, Robert Mayhew, and Gregory Salmieri
July 28, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 93.2 MBAttendees take this final opportunity to pose any lingering questions the conference may have raised. Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Russia’s War in Ukraine by Yaron Brook
July 21, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBThe war in Ukraine continues nearly a year and a half since Russia’s initial invasion. In this talk, Dr. Brook will illuminate the causes and consequences of this war. What were the factors that led to it, and what is its current status? What lessons can we learn about the state of our culture by looking at the response in the West to the war in Ukraine—especially the response of the American Right? Recorded live at OCON 2023
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Capitalism by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
July 14, 2023 15:00 - 44 minutes - 61.1 MBWhen America was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, Greece was among the countries with the strongest anti-American sentiment, together with the likes of Pakistan and Iran. At the same time, it was one of the few remaining countries with a strong Communist Party, and with leftist ideas having a significant pull in society. Why do anti-Americanism and anti-capitalism go hand in hand? Why are both prevalent among modern European culture? How can societies that have contributed to and...
Reason and Faith — Their Methods, Their Consequences, Their Relationship by Tara Smith
July 07, 2023 15:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBThis lecture clarifies the basic nature of reason and of faith. It explains the superiority of reason by highlighting its role in the acquisition of knowledge and the advance of human progress. Finally, it explores the prospects for reconciling reason with faith, finding that any attempts to partner the two serve only to destroy the benefits of reason. Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Aristotle’s Lyceum by Robert Mayhew
June 30, 2023 15:00 - 53 minutes - 74 MBIn this talk, after a quick look at the life of Aristotle and his establishment of a philosophical school at the Lyceum, Dr. Mayhew will describe the grounds and buildings of the Lyceum, its use as a school of philosophy, and the possible reasons for its steady decline as a cultural influence in the centuries following Aristotle’s death. A brief account of some of the Aristotelians who came after him (e.g. Theophrastus and Eudemus) will be included. Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Man’s Life as the Standard of Value in the Ethics of Ayn Rand and Aristotle by Gregory Salmieri
June 23, 2023 15:00 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MB“Man’s life,” wrote Ayn Rand, “is the standard of morality.” Aristotle was the first to identify the proper standard of morality as the distinctly human form of life—the life of a rational animal. But Rand and Aristotle have importantly different views of what the human form of life is—in particular, about why reason is a value and how it relates to the faculties and the needs that human beings share with other living things. This talk explores the similarities and differences between these t...
Panel Discussion: Objectivism and Ancient Greek Philosophy with Robert Mayhew, Gregory Salmieri and Aaron Smith
June 16, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBToday’s earlier sessions were about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. In this panel we reflect on this philosophy in light of the nature of philosophy as a discipline and its origins in the thinkers of Ancient Athens. What is philosophy and why did it first arise in Ancient Greece and flower in Athens? What is the special significance of Socrates and Plato? Why did Rand see her “only philosophical debt“ as being to Aristotle and in what sense is her philosophy Aristotelian? What are the oth...
Q&A Panel on Objectivism with Onkar Ghate, Gregory Salmieri, Tara Smith and Aaron Smith
June 09, 2023 16:38 - 1 hour - 96.3 MBAfter reflecting on the talks so far, here is your chance to ask any questions you have about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Capitalism: The Only Moral Social System by Gregory Salmieri
June 02, 2023 15:00 - 54 minutes - 74.9 MB“If life on earth is one’s standard of value,” wrote Ayn Rand, “then the nineteenth century moved mankind forward more than all the other centuries combined.” She attributed the century’s “creative energy” and “rising standard of living” to the introduction of the only moral social system: capitalism. In this talk, Dr. Salmieri discusses why it is the only moral system, and how its moral character makes possible an unprecedented prosperity that humanity has only begun (fitfully) to achieve.Re...
What Does It Mean to Be Selfish? – Ayn Rand’s Vision of Rational Egoism by Tara Smith
May 24, 2023 21:22 - 56 minutes - 77.5 MB“Give back,” “Serve something higher than yourself,” “Put others first” – this is the wisdom of the ages. Raised on these platitudes from religious and secular quarters alike, most people assume that to be moral simply is to be selfless. Ayn Rand rejects this assumption. She champions the virtue of selfishness. But what does that mean? This lecture highlights some of the key elements of rational egoism to illuminate what it is and is not. By refuting common misconceptions as well as indicatin...
The Evil of Altruism by Onkar Ghate
May 17, 2023 15:52 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBEveryone knows that altruism — selfless sacrifice for the sake of others — is the essence of virtue, right? But what if our understanding of the true meaning of “altruism” and “sacrifice” is completely mistaken? What if these ideas are actually destructive and harmful? From Ayn Rand’s perspective, our whole way of thinking about morality needs to be radically rethought.Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Ayn Rand’s Ideas: An Introduction by Aaron Smith
May 10, 2023 16:02 - 43 minutes - 60 MBEvery major philosophy gives you answers to questions about the nature of the world we live in, about human nature, about how to live one’s life and organize society. The answers we accept (implicitly or explicitly) give us guidance and a framework for living. This talk will provide an overview of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, and her original answers to these questions, which have sparked an idealistic movement for reason, rational self-interest and laissez-faire capitalism.Recorded li...
Is Inequality Fair? by Yaron Brook
May 03, 2023 14:29 - 45 minutes - 62.4 MBWe’re told that the gap between the poor and the rich has widened. Many decry the “injustice” of income and wealth inequality. But is it actually a problem and are the proposed remedies truly just? What is a fair “distribution” of income and wealth? Yaron Brook takes on these and related issues and argues that a genuinely laissez-faire capitalist society is, in fact, the only system of fairness, that is, justice.Recorded March 5, 2014
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict . . . What Is the Solution? by Yaron Brook
April 26, 2023 15:00 - 2 hours - 181 MBCentral to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the question of whether the state of Israel has a moral right to exist. In this talk Dr. Yaron Brook argues that Israel deserves — but is not receiving — America’s moral and political support; that by sacrificing its loyal ally for the sake of appeasing our common enemies, America is undermining its own war on terrorism.Recorded December 12, 2002
Why Bad Economics Won’t Go Away by Yaron Brook
April 19, 2023 15:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBWhy is it that people don't seem to learn from experience? It is clear that our existing Keynesian economic policies have failed miserably. We can compare controlled economies with those less controlled, and compare more regulated sectors of our own economy with those sectors that have fewer regulations. Logic and history are on the side of those economists who have advocated for free markets. Why do those who advocate sound economic policies continue to fail in substantially rolling back gov...
Pandemics and Patents by Adam Mossoff
March 15, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 125 MBBiopharmaceutical innovators responded heroically to the COVID-19 pandemic. In unprecedented time and with cutting-edge technologies, they created vaccines and other medical treatments that saved millions of lives around the world. For this extraordinary achievement, leftists and libertarians have vilified them, and politicians are actively seeking to confiscate their patents. This talk explains how patents made possible the unprecedented response to the pandemic and why these vital property ...
The Inductive Origins of Darwins Origin by James Lennox
February 22, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 124 MBCharles Darwin was far from the first person to defend the idea that new species originate by a natural evolutionary process. Between 1750 and 1850 the idea had many defenders, including his grandfather. Why did Charles Darwin succeed in convincing his fellow naturalists, when many before him had failed? Based on a decades-long study of his private notebooks and correspondence, this lecture by James Lennox will describe the inductive method that lies behind Darwin’s brilliant presentation of ...
Judging Viewpoints by Their Fundamentals by Peter Schwartz
February 15, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBHow do we judge viewpoints — political movements, ideologies, philosophies — that seem to contain mixtures of good and bad ideas? How do we determine whether any specific element of a broader framework is good or bad? This talk discusses a range of viewpoints, from environmentalism to religion to Black Lives Matter, and examines the means by which their concrete positions should be assessed. It explains how to identify the fundamental of any systematic viewpoint, and how that must shape our j...
The Progress Movement: Origins, Momentum and Opportunities by Jason Crawford
February 09, 2023 01:29 - 59 minutes - 82.1 MBIn the last few years, a new intellectual community and movement has arisen, centered on the value of scientific, technological, industrial, and economic progress. These ideas have caught the attention of business leaders, academic economists, and prominent journalists. Where did this movement come from? Why is it gaining traction? And what are the key steps to maximize its positive impact? Crawford will give his viewpoint as someone who has been inside the epicenter of this movement since it...
“We the Living” – Celebrating the Film’s 80-Year Journey by Duncan Scott
February 01, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBMr. Scott, restorer of the film classic We the Living, will give a talk celebrating the movie’s astonishing 80-year journey—from 1942 to 2022. Scott will vividly describe the many controversies and intrigues surrounding the film’s production in war-time Italy; the heroic efforts to save the film after dictator Mussolini ordered the film destroyed; Scott’s personal experiences working alongside Ayn Rand on the initial restoration of the rediscovered movie; and the meticulous new restoration. ...
Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”: The Story of Her Original Screenplay by Shoshana Milgram
January 25, 2023 16:00 - 59 minutes - 81.8 MBAyn Rand’s original screenplay for The Fountainhead was 283 pages long. The final screenplay for the 1949 film was less than half that length. Much of her work, therefore, has never been available to the public. The OCON program includes a performance of several scenes as originally planned and written. This follow-up talk provides additional information about Ayn Rand’s choices in the 1944 screenplay regarding the order and contexts of scenes and includes scenes rendered visually with no dia...
Building the Builder’s Mindset: Psychological Lessons from Working with Entrepreneurs by Gena Gorlin
January 18, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 126 MBHaving spent much of the past two years offering psychological support to entrepreneurs, Dr. Gorlin has witnessed how much support the most ambitious people need—even, sometimes especially, when they already have the right philosophy. This talk will recount what she has learned about the psychological needs and challenges of entrepreneurs, and what this has taught her about the work we all need to do on ourselves in order to build the lives and careers of our choosing. Recorded live on July ...
Emil Theodor Kocher: A Chance to Cut by Laura Mazer
January 11, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 118 MBEmil Kocher, Swiss surgeon in the late 1800s, is known mostly for revolutionizing surgery of the thyroid. In his hands, the mortality rate of thyroid removal dropped from 50% to less than 1%. But tragedy soon followed triumph: before Kocher, no one could take out the thyroid gland. So no one asked if you should. The consequence of his surgical genius was the belated realization that the thyroid plays a crucial role in growth and development — much to the dismay of his young patients. This is ...
Frege’s Logic: Revolution or Devolution? by Mike Mazza
January 04, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 83.7 MBThe most significant figure in the history of logic after Aristotle is 19th-century German philosopher Gottlob Frege. Frege’s work in logic and philosophy is foundational to the “analytic” tradition in philosophy and has had a strong influence on mathematics and computer science. This lecture discusses his revolution in logic and critiques its philosophical foundations. Recorded live on July 6, 2022 as part of the Objectivist Summer Conference.
The Case for Open Borders by Harry Binswanger
December 28, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 125 MBDr. Binswanger defends a radical position on immigration: the moral imperative to end all forms of governmental interference with freedom of travel. Crossing a national border, he argues, should be as free, unregulated, and unsupervised as crossing a state border. He takes on all the common objections to open borders, including: “Immigrants take our jobs away,” “Open borders abandon sovereignty,” “Immigration is harmful in a welfare state,” and “Immigrants will vote the wrong way.” He conclud...
Criminalizing Economic Inequality through the Prohibition on Insider Trading by Kevin Douglas
December 21, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 85.5 MBMr. Douglas will describe how insider trading laws criminalize several forms of economic inequality. Property law generally protects a business owner’s freedom to profit from trade secrets and business opportunities, and by setting prices. By contrast, the prohibition on insider trading undermines the usefulness of information for its owners and treats less informed investors as victims of investors with information advantages. The result is a system of regulation that actively redistributes ...
Understanding Evil: The Soviet Union and the Sanction of the Victim by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
December 14, 2022 16:00 - 59 minutes - 82.3 MBThe Bolsheviks began as an insignificant, minority group that seized power in 1917, yet they maintained it for seven decades and established an empire with global reach. The regime struggled from day one, and yet it managed to sustain itself and expand. There are useful lessons to draw from this for the student of history and ideas. What does the Soviet Union’s history teach us about the nature of evil? How does it survive, and how important is the role played by the sanction of the good? Re...
The Dollar and the Gun Under Xi Jinping’s Dictatorship with Scott McDonald, Adam Mossoff, and Elan Journo
December 09, 2022 16:00 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBRapid economic opening and growth since the 1980s led many to expect the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to undergo political liberalization and assume a business-friendly environment. This panel will explore contemporary conditions in the Communist Party–ruled state and seek answers to the coming challenges posed by its approach to economics: What are the implications for foreign corporations investing in the PRC? What risks do they face to their intellectual property? How is the Party leve...