Tag: debate
Liberalism as a product: how to convince others that freedom is good
February 21, 2024 | Post
Liberalism is a great product, but it often doesn’t sell very well, despite spearheading the astronomical leap in prosperity over the past 200 years.
So, what are liberals getting wrong and how can they sell freedom more effectively?
Libertarianism: perfect solution or unrealistic fantasy?
September 30, 2022 | Post
At LibertyCon International, Spike Cohen and Destint will debate whether libertarianism is a perfect solution or an unrealistic fantasy
Truth exists – and disagreement helps us reach it
September 23, 2022 | Post
When you arrive at “we think differently, and that is OK” – all interaction stops. Nobody will convince anyone of anything. Nobody is searching for answers. They simply do not want to get their feelings hurt, so they stop thinking about reality altogether. We must not place comfort above truth.
Speak up! Overcoming the anxiety of free speech on campus
August 11, 2022 | Post
Do not let fear of being different or the assumption of ‘cancel culture’ define you or your college experience. You are entitled as much as anyone one else to express your view in a courteous and intelligent way; let the chips fall where they may.
Pro-liberty discourse needs to be practical and relatable
July 14, 2022 | Post
Once again, Americans are at each other’s throats, ready to fight over extremely partisan lines. Typically, this opens opportunities for the liberty movement, but our discourse has its own problems
The libertarian personality: a quick guide to the best friends you’ve yet to meet
July 8, 2022 | Post
Friends of liberty are united by a common interest in peacefully building a freer society that champions liberty for all.
The libertarian position on abortion
July 5, 2022 | Post
What is the libertarian position on abortion? The answer is not so simple. Abortion is a divisive issue in pro-liberty circles: some are staunchly pro-choice while others are staunchly pro-life. Yet, the various libertarian positions on abortion follow a similar moral logic.
NEOliberalism: Reclaim … or Reject?
March 22, 2022 | Video
The Guardian once called neoliberalism “the ideology at the root of all our problems.” New York Magazine called neoliberalism “the left’s favorite insult of liberals.”
But does anyone really know what the word means — or know anything about its origins?
Debate: Is Ayn Rand right about rights?
April 16, 2017 | Post
If my life is the standard of morality, then why should I refrain from interfering with your freedom if doing so will advance my interests?
Bryan Caplan: Is immigration a basic human right?
March 31, 2017 | Post
Editors Note: On March 16th George Mason University Professor of Economics Bryan Caplan debated Washington University Professor of Philosophy Christopher Wellman on the topic, “Is Immigration a Basic Human Right?” Below is Professor Caplan’s opening statement. There are many complaints about governments, but the harshest is, “This government grossly violates human rights.” The background assumption is that […]
The Filibuster: A Primer
March 28, 2017 | Post
Most legal scholars agree that Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch has the necessary experience, expertise, and temperament to be confirmed as Justice Scalia’s replacement. But suppose the Democrats decide to filibuster the nomination and Republicans can’t get the 60 votes needed to break the filibuster? If that happens, you can expect the Republicans to “go […]
Yes, free speech for fascists — a confession
March 10, 2017 | Post
Free expression is so important that we must tolerate even the expression of opposition to free expression.
In praise of safe spaces on campus
March 9, 2017 | Post
I want to come out in favor of safe spaces. Not everywhere, or for all purposes, but in general I think there should be a strong presumption in favor of limited and exclusive safe spaces for any group that wants to establish one. Of course, the group would need to have the ability and legal […]
Anonymity and doxing in the 1787 ratification debates
March 7, 2017 | Post
The American founding generation had this crazy idea that ideas mattered more than who espoused them.
If you want to persuade people, stop “winning” arguments
February 26, 2017 | Post
People won’t thank you for “beating them,” but there are gentler and more effective ways to change minds.
Judicial "Activism" vs. Judicial "Engagement"
February 10, 2017 | Post
The Director of the Center for Judicial Engagement at the Institute for Justice, Clark Neily, and an editor at the Library of Law and Liberty, Mark Pulliam, recently debated the role of the judiciary in American constitutional democracy over at City Journal. At issue is which judicial philosophy conservative and/or libertarian-minded people should support. Pulliam […]
Make Compromise Great Again: Arthur Schlesinger and the politics of the extreme
February 8, 2017 | Post
It is the peripheral positions in modern politics, on both right and left, that inevitably deteriorate into tyranny.
How One Theory You Never Heard of Explains Everything Donald Trump Does
August 6, 2016 | Post
When Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president a year ago, Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight political blog said he had “a better chance of cameoing in another ‘Home Alone’ movie with Macaulay Culkin—or playing in the NBA Finals—than winning the Republican nomination.” With a net favorability rating of -32 percent according to FiveThirtyEight and “exactly zero” […]
WhatsApp, Encryption, and Your Right to Privacy
May 19, 2016 | Post
The messaging service WhatsApp has run into problems with the Brazilian government for failing to turn over data relating to a criminal investigation. With over one billion users, the wildly popular app features a major benefit that many governments disapprove of: it encrypts all messages sent through the app. This is only the most recent […]
The Gun Control Debate, Explained With Dogs
January 27, 2016 | Post
Gun control is a topic which never fails to inspire heated debate. In addition to the vehement passion of groups which support or oppose gun control, conversations about restrictions on gun ownership are further complicated by a lack of agreement and understanding of gun vocabulary. Dan Bier at the Foundation for Economic Education explains: “But […]
Free Speech and Central Funding
December 3, 2015 | Post
Controversies surrounding the funding of college publications with student fees illustrate some important difficulties when it comes to the funding and activities of the federal government. Wesleyan University’s student government cut funding for the campus newspaper in the wake of an op-ed critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. The University of California at San […]
Free Speech Challenge on Campus
November 25, 2015 | Post
The issue of free speech has exploded on college campuses in recent weeks, with students and faculty at numerous schools nationwide calling for restrictions of free expression in the name of tolerance, and calling for conformity in the name of diversity. In the video below, Towson University professor Howard Baetjer tries to confront college students […]
IHS events are coming to a campus near you.
November 11, 2015 | Post
Our parent organization, the Institute for Humane Studies, brings the ideas of liberty to students in more ways than just online education like on Learn Liberty. They also provide funding, career advice, and more to help educate students about the principles of a free society. And now, IHS is coming to your neighborhood with On-Campus events! […]
Republican Debate: More of the Same?
October 29, 2015 | Post
Last night’s Republican debate was two hours of 10 candidates doing their best to distinguish themselves from the many people hoping to win the 2016 presidential election. While there were some generally agreed-upon winners (Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz) and losers (Jeb Bush, and for some the CNBC moderators), the debate itself was underwhelming. Was […]