Portraits of Liberty

Jan 14 2025 70 ep. 22 mins 111
Portraits of Liberty Podcast artwork

Portraits of Liberty investigates the lives and philosophies of thinkers throughout history who argued in favor of a freer world.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  History  Education  Government
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Revisiting Frédéric Bastiat

Jan 14 2025 19 mins  
From his critique of state-controlled education in “Baccalaureate and Socialism,” to his extensive correspondence with free-trade advocate Richard Cobden, to his independent political career in a tumultuous France, Bastiat’s insights are still applicable today. In this episode, we explore his lesser-known works and his reflections on freedom, self-ownership, and the dangers o

The Father of the School of Salamanca: Francisco de Vitoria

Dec 10 2024 18 mins  
The 16th-century Dominican theologian Francisco de Vitoria has been hailed as the father of international law. Vitoria's teachings at the University of Salamanca shaped the foundation of modern natural law and human rights, from his pioneering defense of indigenous rights in the New World to his profound contributions to political theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

The Forgotten Austrian: Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

Nov 12 2024 14 mins  
Born in 1851, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk distinguished himself as an economist, writing on theories of capital and interest. His work, Karl Marx and the Close of His System, remains one of the most thorough rebuttals of the labor theory of value. But beyond his work as an economist, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk put theory into practice as a statesman arguing against the rapid fiscal expansio

The Law of Equal Freedom: Herbert Spencer

Oct 08 2024 26 mins  
Over his 60-year career, English philosopher Herbert Spencer discussed a myriad of topics, including ethics, political philosophy, sociology, and psychology. Central to his intellectual journey, however, was his exploration of evolution—a concept that shaped his vision for a freer world. Though his name may not be widely recognized today, Spencer was once one of the foremost advo

The German Economic “Miracle”: Ludwig Erhard

Sep 10 2024 17 mins  
Following World War II, Germany's economy was in ruins and was made even worse by ongoing price controls implemented by the state. Ludwig Erhard, an economist from a humble background, immediately abolished all price controls when elected director of economics in occupied Germany. The result is what economists and historians call an economic miracle, but what Erhard himself believe

Redefining the Enlightenment: Namık Kemal (with Mustafa Akyol)

Aug 13 2024 46 mins  
An episode interviewing senior fellow Mustafa Akyol about the life and legacy of Namık Kemal, the Ottoman journalist and author. Born into the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century, Namık Kemal became a prolific journalist and reformer who advocated for constitutional government within the Ottoman Empire. His outlook was defined by his commitment to individual rights that are ap

Liberty Further Extended: Lemuel Haynes

Jul 04 2024 20 mins  
Born into poverty and indentured servitude, Lemuel Haynes became the most prominent black preacher of 18th-century America. He combined his experiences as a soldier of the American Revolution and a devout Calvinist to expound the philosophical principles of liberty. From the pulpit, he condemned slavery and upheld the principles of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Ind

The Violent Genesis of the State: Franz Oppenheimer

Jun 18 2024 17 mins  
Though obscure today, the German sociologist Franz Oppenheimer crafted a radical theory of the state. In his book The State, he argued that the state's origins were not in public justice or establishing laws but in the reign of a conquering group over their defeated foes. His work influenced libertarian theorists such as Albert Jay Nock, Walter Block, and Murray Rothbard. Hosted on

The Medieval Case Against Taxes: William of Pagula

May 14 2024 15 mins  
Despite its reputation as a dark age, the Medieval period was not devoid of intellectual substance. An example of this is William of Pagula, a 14th-century English priest and scholar who wrote The Mirror of King Edward III, a political treatise condemning the king's practice of purveyance and excessive taxation. Using a mixture of Biblical and Classical authorities, William made th

No Superior and Few Equals: Elizabeth Freeman

Apr 16 2024 14 mins  
Born into slavery, Elizabeth Freeman gained her freedom in 1781, eighty years before the American Civil War. Freeman did not escape to Pennsylvania as was common at the time. She gained her freedom through the courts. Upon winning her case, she changed her name to Elizabeth Freeman to celebrate her new life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.