Portraits of Liberty

Oct 08 2024 67 ep. 22 mins 110
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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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.

The Soldier Philosopher: Adam Ferguson

Mar 28 2024 15 mins  
Born between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, Ferguson made a name for himself writing philosophical history, an early precursor to sociology. In his famous work, An Essay on The History of Civil Society, Ferguson explained how civilization is refined over many generations  as society evolves to deal with ever-increasing complexity.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.c

The Forgotten Abolitionist: The Black Revolutionary, Industrialist, and Abolitionist James Forten

Feb 27 2024 23 mins  
Despite his upbringing in poverty and vicious racial discrimination, the black freeman James Forten rose to become one of the foremost sailmakers in Philadelphia and a crucial voice in the abolition of slavery. Though largely forgotten today, Forten defied the racial stereotypes of his day and became a symbol of black achievement in the new nation of America. Hosted on Acast. See a

Liberty's Forgotten Man: William Graham Sumner

Jan 30 2024 21 mins  
This month, we examine the often-overlooked legacy of William Graham Sumner, a 19th-century sociologist, economist, and political thinker. Despite his pivotal role in establishing sociology as a discipline at Yale, Sumner's contributions have been overshadowed, partly due to his association with Herbert Spencer, who has been incorrectly labeled a social Darwinist. The episode delve