Self in Society Podcast
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsExploring what it means to flourish as an individual and a community.
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Episodes
Matt Zwolinski on Libertarianism
March 28, 2023 13:13 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBMatt Zwolinski is professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego and the founder and director of USD’s Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy. Zwolinski is the co-editor of The Routledge Companion to Libertarianism, and he is the co-author, with John Tomasi, of The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism (available April 4 and available for preorder). This is the Self in Society Podcast #30. This episode also is available vi...
Ian Silverii on Progressive Aims and Tactics
January 21, 2023 16:21 - 2 hours - 142 MBIan Silverii is the former leader of Progress Now Colorado, founder of the political Bighorn Company, and "First Gentleman of Colorado's 7th Congressional District" following the election of his wife Brittany Pettersen. My main purpose in hosting this conversation was to see if two people with quite different political beliefs could have a civil and productive conversation. I think we accomplished that. Ian is a progressive; I’m a “free market liberal” (I’ll call myself). This episode cont...
Dave Kopel on Guns and Tyranny
June 15, 2022 15:45 - 1 hourDave Kopel is research director of the Independence Institute in Colorado and a leading attorney on Second Amendment issues. He is the author of Aiming for Liberty: The Past, Present, And Future of Freedom and Self-Defense, Colorado Constitutional Law and History, several other books, and countless articles. This is the Self in Society Podcast #28. Time Markers00 Intro1:06 U.S. violence in context6:39 Homicides by government8:15 Civilian gun ownership as protective against mass-murder by go...
Sheriff Bill Masters on Peace Keeping and the Drug War
May 25, 2022 16:16 - 1 hourSheriff Bill Masters discusses peace keeping and how that relates to the war on drugs. Masters, of Telluride, San Miguel County, is the longest serving sheriff in Colorado history, having taken over the position in 1980. Masters also is the author of the 2001 book, Drug War Addiction: Notes from the Front Lines of America's #1 Policy Disaster (which I helped to edit). This interview was recorded on May 23, 2022, as the Self in Society Podcast #27. Time Markers00 Intro1:40 On being sheriff f...
Robert Tracinski on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged
May 02, 2022 23:09 - 1 hourRobert Tracinski is the author of the book, So Who Is John Galt, Anyway?: A Reader's Guide to Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." Tracinski also writes the Tracinski Letter and Symposium at Substack, and he is a columnist for various other publications. This is the Self in Society Podcast #26. Time Markers00 Intro1:22 Would Any Rand be more concerned with today's "woke" anti-capitalist left or religious ethno-nationalist right?6:06 The collapse of fusionism; Rand's influence on conservatism9:50 Ar...
Lisa Thomas-Smith on Moral Habits
December 17, 2021 16:00 - 1 hourDrawing on her dissertation work on moral habits, philosopher Lisa Thomas-Smith (now at Clemson) discusses the nature of and need for habits, methods for improving our habits, cultural influences on people's habits, recent cultural shifts for better and worse, and more. Time Stamps 00 Intro 1:02 What moral habits are and why we need them 5:30 Cognitive limits and habits 8:04 Habits of thought and of action 9:33 The power and challenge of changing habits of thought 11:11 The bootsrapping pr...
Michael Huemer on Rationality and Objectivity
April 18, 2021 20:00 - 1 hourPhilosopher Michael Huemer, author of Knowledge, Reality, and Value, discusses the meaning of rationality and objectivity, explains why the distinction between fact and opinion is more complex than many people presume, and promotes intellectual virtues. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Steve Spangler on Engaging Science
April 14, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourSteve Spangler, host of DIY Sci, discusses how parents and teachers can foster kids' love of science and help children discover their "spark" in life. He also shares his thoughts on the development and future of online education and recounts his experiences as a pioneer in the field. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Jason Stotts on Erotic Love
February 13, 2021 22:00 - 1 hourJason Stotts, psychotherapist and author of Eros & Ethos, discusses sexuality as an expression of our ethical lives, analyzes the false choice of repression versus hedonism, and addresses gender identity and other aspects of our sexuality. This is the Self in Society Podcast #22. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Christina Sandefur on the Defense of Property Rights
November 14, 2020 19:00 - 1 hourChristina Sandefur of the free-market Goldwater Institute in Arizona discusses her coauthored book, Cornerstone of Liberty: Property Rights in 21st Century America, and related issues. This is the Self in Society Podcast #21. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Robert Alan Goldberg on American Conspiracy Theories
October 07, 2020 22:00 - 1 hourHistorian Robert Alan Goldberg, author of Enemies Within: The Culture of Conspiracy in Modern America, discusses the history of conspiracy thinking in the U.S. and explains how "new" conspiracy theories such as that involving QAnon recycle and embellish old themes. This is the Self in Society Podcast #20. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety...
Timothy Sandefur on Frederick Douglass
September 08, 2020 03:00 - 1 hourTimothy Sandefur, author of Frederick Douglass: Self-Made Man, discusses Douglass's life, political philosophy, and influence in his day and up to the present. This is the Self in Society Podcast episode #19. For more details about this episode, and for additional episodes, please see https://ariarmstrong.com/podcast/ Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
Michael Donnelly on Homeschooling and the Law: Self in Society #18
August 14, 2020 01:00 - 54 minutesMichael Donnelly, Senior Counsel and Director of Global Outreach with the Home School Legal Defense Association, discusses the motivations for homeschooling and the legal aspects of it, with a special focus on Colorado. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Robert Alan Goldberg on the Klan in Colorado
July 29, 2020 21:00 - 1 hourHistorian Robert Alan Goldberg discusses his book, Hooded Empire: The Klu Klux Klan in Colorado, and its lessons for today. This is the Self in Society Podcast #17. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Mark Silverstein on Your Rights when Interacting with Police: Self in Society #16
July 16, 2020 23:00 - 1 hourMark Silverstein, Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado, discusses your rights when interacting with police, troubling police actions during protests, and Colorado police reforms. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Robin Hanson on Variolation as a Response to COVID-19: Self in Society #15
April 24, 2020 23:00 - 48 minutesEconomist and iconoclast Robin Hanson suggests that variolation—controlled, intentional infection of the virus that causes COVID-19—could be an important "Plan B" if containment fails in the long-term and eventual herd immunity seems likely. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Kevin Currie-Knight on Crisis Schooling Versus Homeschooling: Self in Society #14
March 31, 2020 18:00 - 1 hourKevin Currie-Knight, professor of education at East Carolina University and president of the board of New Pathfinder Community School, warns against equating the home "crisis schooling" curing the COVID-19 epidemic with homeschooling as families practice it in normal times. He offers some qualified suggestions for families in which students who usually attend a traditional school now must stay at home. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you wou...
Bryan Alvarez on the COVID-19 Crisis
March 28, 2020 01:00 - 27 minutesDr. Bryan Alvarez, now in private practice after serving as the Public Health Director of the United States Northern Command from 2016–2019, discusses the problems and promise of testing our way out of the coronavirus crisis. He also talks about the process of bringing antiviral drugs and vaccines online, as well as the broader problem of emergency preparedness. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...
Steven Horwitz on Hayek and the Family: Self in Society #12
February 16, 2020 20:00 - 1 hourEconomist Steven Horwitz offers a classical liberal theory of the family grounded in the works of Friedrich Hayek. Unlike conservatives, who tend to glorify a tradition-bound model of the family, and Progressives, who sometimes denigrate the family, Horwitz offers a vision of the family as a dynamic and evolving social institution that plays a critical role in people's lives. For more, please see https://ariarmstrong.com/podcast/. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This i...
Pamela Clare on Romance Fiction: Self in Society #11
January 21, 2020 16:00 - 1 hourPamela Clare is a gun-toting Rush fan—and Boulder Progressive Democrat—who writes romantic fiction. She almost died in a mountain fall and had to be helicoptered out. She got death threats while working as an investigative journalist and had to tell one gun-waving disgruntled reader to get the f*** out of her office. She put her degree in classics to use in her historical romance novels before going on to write about rangers, firefighters, rock climbers, journalists, and other spirited chara...
Melvin Konner on Religious Belief: Self in Society #10
November 14, 2019 17:00 - 1 hourAnthropologist Melvin Konner—author of Believers: Faith in Human Nature—explains the persistence of religious belief in the face of atheistic criticisms. Konner discusses his religious background and his path to a study of biological anthropology, including his work with the !Kung people in Botswana. Konner also challenges the New Atheists' insistence that humanity can and should do away with religion. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you wou...
Kevin Currie-Knight on Self-Directed Education: Self in Society #9
October 29, 2019 19:00 - 1 hourKevin Currie-Knight—professor of education at East Carolina University, author of Education in the Marketplace, and president of the board of New Pathfinder Community School—discusses self-directed education and answers various objections to it. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Jason Crawford on the Roots of Progress: Self in Society #8
September 17, 2019 21:00 - 1 hourJason Crawford, entrepreneur and author of the Roots of Progress blog, discusses what progress is, where it comes from, and how it vastly betters our lives. In the process, he highlights key industrial and technological innovations, explains the errors of Malthus, and discusses how we can keep progress alive. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsoc...
John Coffey on Religious Toleration: Self in Society #7
September 12, 2019 19:00 - 1 hourHistorian John Coffey discusses his book, Persecution and Toleration in Protestant England 1558–1689, and its lessons for today. Coffey reviews the establishment of the Anglican church and the tensions between that church and both the Catholics and the Puritans, tensions that often erupted into state-sponsored violence. Coffee also discusses the theological and political disputes over toleration in this era. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If y...
Lawrence Goldstone on the Death and Legacy of Michael Servetus: Self in Society #6
August 14, 2019 23:00 - 1 hourIn Out of the Flames, Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone recount the remarkable life and shocking death of Michael Servetus, theologian, editor, physician, and heretic. Lawrence discusses Servetus's religious views and his lifelong rivalry with John Calvin, who eventually had him tried for heresy and burned at the stake in Geneva in 1553. But Servetus's work escaped the flames to inspire generations of scientists, religious reformers, and advocates of liberty of conscience. Support the show (https...
Timothy Sandefur on the Ascent of Jacob Bronowski: Self in Society #5
July 31, 2019 18:00 - 1 hourTimothy Sandefur discusses the remarkable life and thought of science educator Jacob Bronowski, creator of the landmark documentary series The Ascent of Man. Sandefur's The Ascent of Jacob Bronowski is the first book-length biography of this fascinating figure. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
James Valliant on Rome and Christianity: Self in Society #4
July 11, 2019 21:00 - 1 hourJames Valliant discusses his book, Creating Christ, in which he and his coauthor Warren Fahy argue that the Roman emperors Nero, Vespasian, and Titus played an active role in the development of early Christianity. Valliant discusses the broader context of the Jewish-Roman conflict of the First Century, the themes of the Gospels, and the remarkable parallels between the Flavian emperors and the Christian story. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If...
Michael Huemer on Animal Welfare: Self in Society #3
June 27, 2019 15:00 - 56 minutesPhilosopher Michael Huemer discusses his book, "Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism," focusing on the problem of the severe suffering of most animals currently raised for their flesh, skin, milk, or eggs. He also discusses the difference between a strict vegan diet and a diet that includes bivalves and potentially lab-grown meat; the alternative strategy of reducing one's consumption of animal products; the problem of social conformity; and more. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/don...
Robert Anthony Peters on Tank Man, Hollywood, Liberty, and Stoicism: Self in Society #2
June 19, 2019 03:00 - 1 hourWriter and Director Robert Anthony Peters discusses his short film, Tank Man, in the context of Chinese politics. Peters, an actor as well, also offers advice to young actors, discusses his advocacy of liberty, and outlines what in Stoicism he finds valuable. Support the show (https://ariarmstrong.com/donate/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit selfinsociety.substack.com
Robert Zubrin on the Case for Space: Self in Society #1
June 04, 2019 18:00 - 1 hourRobert Zubrin, head of the Mars Society and of Pioneer Astronautics, discusses his new book, The Case for Space. Zubrin discusses how he became interested in space, his vision for a spacefaring civilization within the next fifty years, his Mars Direct plan, and his views on why people should focus at least at the outset on settling planets and moons rather than O'Neill Colonies. Zubrin also explains why humanity should head toward the stars to look for life, to probe the mysteries of the uni...