What is Money?
All of the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arises, not from the defects of the Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from …
A Primer on Austrian Economics
Unsurprisingly, not all economists agree on how to approach what used to be called “political economy”. Adam Smith in 1776 defined it as “an inquiry into the nature and causes …
Why Logic is Unpopular
Value hierarchies are inevitable. What value belongs at the top to make sure the others stay in their proper place? The ancient Greeks spoke of three perspectives: pathos, ethos, and …
Freedom of Association
Why shouldn’t you be forced to marry and have children against your will? Why shouldn’t you be forced to join and support a religious organization? Why shouldn’t you be forced …
Why Culture Matters
What is Culture? As individuals, people experience consciousness (identity, intelligence, soul, conscience), develop character (will, agency, behavioral patterns, habits), and demonstrate preferences of style (taste). Biological traits and tendencies both …
Nation, Country, and State
These words are commonly conflated and treated as synonyms. Do you know the difference between them? Nation: a group of people with common ancestry and language Country: a geographic region …
Ethics 101: Reciprocity
People have been arguing about how to deal with ideas of right and wrong for a very long time. Even now, reasonable people sometimes disagree about where exactly to draw …
The Law of the Instrument
What is your favorite tool? Is it so familiar or compelling that you are tempted to employ it in all contexts? The law of the instrument illustrates this tendency. Tools …
Voluntary Law and Order
Table of Contents Introduction – Principles of Justice Law and Order in a Free Society – Private Governance – Rules Without Rulers – Ex Ante Solutions – Ex Post Solutions …
What Poker Can Teach You About Life
I know a lot of people shun gambling and card playing, but there are some valuable lessons that can be learned from poker. I find that playing a few rounds …