Portraits of Liberty

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Portraits of Liberty investigates the lives and philosophies of thinkers throughout history who argued in favor of a freer world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Libertarianism.org


    • Oct 2, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 54 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Portraits of Liberty

    Coming Soon: The Liberty Exchange

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 3:14


    Coming soon, a brand new podcast from Libertarianism.org... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why Study History?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 13:17


    A special 50th episode of Portraits about why a layperson should study history. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Highly Visible Hand: Richard Cantillon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 18:59


    Despite his obscurity today, the French Irish economist Richard Cantillon was the first person to put forward a theory of the entrepreneur in the market economy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    visible richard cantillon
    The Most Popular Economist: Henry George

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 20:08


    In 1879, Henry George wrote Progress and Poverty, still one of the bestselling economics books of all time; in it, he argued for the abolition of all kinds of taxes but one. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    A Feminist before Feminism: Marie De Gournay

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 16:33


    Marie De Gournay's “The Equality of Men and Women” is one of the first books to use equality to define the relationships between the sexes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    An Enlightened Entrepreneur: Josiah Wedgwood

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 18:33


    Though born into obscurity, Josiah Wedgwood would become a household name across the European continent over the course of his life, representing refinement and taste. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    european wedgwood enlightened entrepreneur
    The Father of Indian Economics: Kautilya

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 20:46


    The ancient Indian writer Kautilya had more knowledge of economic affairs than any thinker for over a thousand years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Liberal Hero of the Philippines: José Rizal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 23:15


    The life of the subversive novelist José Rizal proves that sometimes the pen really is mightier than the sword. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The First Japanese Classical Liberal: Itagaki Taisuke

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 25:29


    Born into a middle-ranking samurai family and a volatile political scene, Itagaki Taisuke would become one of the most influential figures in Japanese history. His early exposure to western ideas of liberalism led him to become a fierce advocate of constitutional government. He became the leader of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, which later developed into Japan's first-ever political party, the Liberal Party. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Portraits Winter Break

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 0:41


    We are taking a holiday break on the Portraits of Liberty Podcast. Look for new episodes from us come the New Year. In the meantime, be sure to check out our catalog of previous episodes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Founder of Many Disciplines: Ibn Khaldun

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 21:53


    Four hundred before Adam Smith wrote the Wealth of Nations, the 14th-century Andalusian statesman and scholar Ibn Khaldun discussed the division of labor, the benefits of trade, and the optimal rate of taxation. Today, historians consider Ibn Khaldun's work as the precursor to the disciplines o economics, historiography, and sociology. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Colossus of Independence: John Adams (with C. Bradley Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 36:00


    Despite being the first-ever vice president and second president, until very recently, John Adams was ignored by historians in favor of figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. But Adams was one of the practical and philosophical powerhouses of the American Revolution. Without the lifelong dedication of Adams, it is arguable the American Revolution might never have succeeded. C. Bradley Thompson joins Portraits to vindicate why Adams deserves a place amongst the greats of American history. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Names Change but Dictators Remain: Luis Cabrera Lobato(with Luis Felipe Barrón Córdova)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 39:31


    Beginning life as the son of a baker, Luis Cabrera Lobato rose to prominence as a lawyer and became one of the sharpest intellects of the Mexican Revolution. At the time, he was Mexico's foremost constitutional. Luis noticed that without the restraint of the law, names change, but dictators remain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Poet Turned President: Václav Havel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 24:52


    Intellectual, poet, and playwright Václav Havel began life on the fringes of Communist Czechoslovakia. Alongside fellow dissidents, Václav played a vital role in the Velvet Revolution, peacefully toppling the communist state and becoming the first president of the newly founded country. Today he is remembered for his moral integrity and biting critique of the spiritual oppression inherent in the communist system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    A Martyr for Religious Freedom: Mary Dyer (with Paul Matzko)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 37:04


    Mary Dyer left England to pursue her religious beliefs without persecution in the New World. However, once she arrived, she quickly realized the hypocrisy of the Puritan authorities, who persecuted her, even fashioning her tragic miscarriage as a "monstrous birth" in order to discredit her. Her execution, and that of many religious dissidents like her, carved out the space for the kind of religious freedom we so often take for granted today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Apostle of Cuban Independence: José Martí

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 25:40


    Born in Havana in 1853, José Martí witnessed the horrors of slavery at a young age and dedicated his life to fighting against imperialism and racism. Martí many things, a poet, a philosopher, journalist, professor, but above all else a patriot to Cuba. He was an anti-racist and anti-colonial thinker who criticized any form of oppression. Though he failed in his efforts to gain independence for Cuba, Martí has become a heroic figure for liberty in Latin America. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    (Re-Release): Cicero: An Ancestor of Liberalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 27:25


    Today Cicero is often read-only by classical scholars and reluctant students which is a great shame because his life and philosophy reflect a sort of proto-liberalism that came to influence a wide variety of thinkers such as John Adams, John Locke, Adam Smith, Voltaire, and Montesquieu. His life and works have echoed throughout the western tradition of political philosophy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Early Arguments for Economic Liberty: The De La Court Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 25:46


    Unlike their monarchical neighbors, the 17th-century Dutch Republic was a tolerant capitalist society amid a Golden Age of exploration, commerce, and science. The most outstanding defenders of this out of place, yet highly successful republic were the De La Court brothers, two radical writers who become precursors to the most radical elements of Enlightenment thought in favor of commerce, toleration, and above all else, liberty. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Resisting the Nazis: Sophie Scholl

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 23:32


    Born in Germany in the first half of the 20th-century, Sophie Scholl witnessed the rise of the Nazi party and state throughout her childhood. By the time she was a student at the University of Munich, she could not stand idly by as the Nazi war machine raged. Scholl joined the peaceful activist group known as the White Rose and tried to shine a light on Nazi Germany's evil crimes. For her activism, she paid the ultimate price. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    A Forgotten American Hero: Roger Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 25:21


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    The Liberal Ideas of Ibn Rushd (with Mustafa Aykol)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 29:24


    Mustafa Akyol joins Portraits of Liberty to discuss the life and thought of the famous Andalusian polymath Ibn Rushd. Born during what is called the Golden Age of Islam, Ibn Rushd was one of the earliest thinkers in the Middle East to articulate what would later become the core values of liberalism. His influence stretched into the western world, where his translations of Aristotle caused an intellectual renaissance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    When Ireland was Stateless (with Kevin Flanagan)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 43:40


    A lot of people talk about abolishing the state, but can it be done? Often the status quo says no. Founder of the Brehon Law Academy, Kevin Flanagan, disagrees and explains that Ireland was a stateless society for hundreds if not thousands of years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The First Chinese Constitutionalist: Huang Zongxi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 21:28


    After the death of his father and the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Huang Zongxi began to contemplate how things had collapsed. He began to think that governments were the problem. Those in power only served themselves. Huang proposed his solution to the chaos in his book Waiting for the Dawn, where he argued for a government that served the people and protected property. The government's power would be limited and kept in check to prevent tyranny from arising. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    A Champion of Civil Liberties: John Lilburne

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 22:26


    Living in the 17th-century, John Lilburne )or as he was more commonly known Freeborn John) was imprisoned at a young age for distributing a banned book. From this point on through the English Civil Wars and the turbulent days of the English republic, Lilburne was a fierce advocate of civil liberties, what he called the rights of freeborn men. He inspired the Leveller movement and colonial governments in America that followed his advice on the importance of free speech and the right to silence. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Enemy of Tyranny: Cato the Younger

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 24:38


    Born into the tumultuous final days of the Roman Republic, Cato made a name for himself as an honest, humble, and dedicated politician. Cato fought against the tyranny of Julius Caesar. Though Cato was on the losing side, his character and conduct became legendary, especially amongst the Founding Fathers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Protector of the Native Americans: Bartolomé de las Casas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 28:33


    Bartolomé de las Casas was only a child in 1493 when Christopher Columbus returned from the New World and passed by his hometown of Seville. Seeing the riches up for grabs, Las Casas traveled to the New World and became a wealthy landowner with multiple slaves. But through a series of revelations, Las Casas came to realize the evil of slavery and conquest. He dedicated the rest of his life to becoming one of the earliest advocates of human rights to atone for his past sins. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Locofocos, The Radical Classical Liberals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 30:45


    Joined by leading expert Anthony Comenga from the Institute for Humane Studies, in this episode, we discuss the Locofoco movement. Active from 1820-1870, the Locofocos represent a radical version of classical liberalism that attacks corporate privileges and monopolistic laws. Though often forgotten, they are a unique voice in the history of classical liberalism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Saving Classical Liberalism: Isabel Paterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 23:25


    In the early 20th-century liberal ideas were in danger of becoming extinct with the rise of extreme ideologies such as fascism and communism in Europe and the massively expanding state of the New Deal era. Perturbed by the ever-increasing government, Isabel Paterson wrote her magnum Opus God of the Machine about how free and creative individuals bring about progress, not the state. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Nuns Against the State: Arcangela Tarabotti

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 22:14


    In the 17th-century, many young noble girls were forced into nun convents by their fathers. In 1620 Arcangela Tarabotti was forced to stay in a convent until the day she died. Tarabotti dedicated herself to writing against the mistreatment of women and argued against the misogyny of her day. She believed women, like men, possessed free will, the God-given gift of choice. Because of this, no man has the right to dictate how women live. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Where Buddhism & Libertarianism Intersect (with Aaron Ross Powell)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 23:13


    Discussions of Buddhism typically revolve around lofty topics like reincarnation and the nature of the self. Policy debates about tax rates and international trade seem to be outside of the Buddhist focus. Aaron Ross Powell joins to discuss how the ethical principles of Buddhism apply to the world of politics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Keep Government Simple: Mozi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 22:29


    Writing during the calamitous Warring States period of Chinese history, Mozi was unlike any of his contemporaries. He was ardently opposed to wasteful government spending, loathed aggressive foreign wars, and believed government positions should be held by the best for the job, not just those with familial and political connections. His political philosophy can be characterized as the first-ever form of consequentialism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    (Re-Release): Forgotten Libertarians

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2020 49:10


    For too long history was just the study of great men, but with the rise of intellectual history we have focused more on how people have changed their ideas over time. In another sense, studying history is about studying the struggle for power. The host of Portraits of Liberty, Paul Meany, joins the show to highlight historical thinkers who may not have been strictly libertarian, but argued for a freer world. Portraits of Liberty celebrates a broader historical libertarianism.What is valuable about studying intellectual history? Why do certain philosophers get completely forgotten? What is the difference between tradition and truth? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    A Lover of Individualism: Zora Neale Hurston

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 25:27


    Growing up in a black self-governing town, Zora realized the myth of race and that black Americans were just as capable citizens as their white counterparts. Battling through poverty and discrimination, Zora became one of the foremost figures of the Harlem Renaissance, but unlike her fellow intellectuals, she loathed any form of socialism or collectivism, preferring the greater gift of individualism instead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Mother of Libertarianism: Rose Wilder Lane

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 22:54


    At it's lowest point in the early 20th-century, classical liberal ideas were in full retreat with the advent of extensive state interference in the economy. Rose Wilder Lane reignited a passion for liberal ideas in her numerous columns alongside her master work The Discovery of Freedom. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Freedom in Ancient China: Mencius

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 22:56


    Few philosophy curricula today cover the writings of eastern philosophers. Even though his teachings are over two millennia old, the work of Mencius covers many liberal themes. Mencius argued for a state which promoted both virtue and prosperity through a policy of non-interference. He staunchly opposed wars aimed at expanding state power and argued in favor of deposing rulers who did not fulfill their obligations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Liberty, Free Speech, and Killing Tyrants: John of Salisbury

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 22:00


    The 12th-century clergyman John of Salisbury has been relegated to obscurity today. This is a great shame because his treatise on politics entitled Policraticus despite it's medieval trappings articulates a love of freedom, a respect for free speech and most controversially, discussions of when it is morally permissible to kill a tyrant. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Cicero: An Ancestor of Liberalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 27:25


    Today Cicero is often read-only by classical scholars and reluctant students which is a great shame because his life and philosophy reflect a sort of proto-liberalism that came to influence a wide variety of thinkers such as John Adams, John Locke, Adam Smith, Voltaire, and Montesquieu. His life and works have echoed throughout the western tradition of political philosophy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Anders Chydenius

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 21:05


    Coming from the humble position of a rural clergy member, the Swedish Anders Chydenius shocked his contemporaries with his radical arguments in favour of the free market and a minimal state. Anders dedicated his life to defending the economic liberty of the least represented in society. During his life, he repealed backward economic policies, protected religious minorities' rights, and played a crucial role in establishing the principle of free speech in law. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The English Cato: Algernon Sidney

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 24:44


    In 17th-century England, where the divine right of kings was being questioned, Algernon Sidney was one of the most ardent republicans who detested unchecked monarchical power. He spent his life fighting for a political order that kept those in power accountable to the people. Due to his stubborn sense of honor and a lifetime of rebellion against tyranny, Algernon became a household name during the American Revolution. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    John Stuart Mill's Co-author Harriet Taylor Mill

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 21:15


    John Stuart Mill is one of the most influential liberal philosophers who ever lived. But Mill did not write alone, through his letters and autobiography he extensively praised his wife Harriet Taylor Mill who he considered an equal partner and co-author. This episode covers Harriets often forgotten importance in the history of liberalism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Apostle of Free Trade: Richard Cobden

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 23:30


    Despite his humble origins as the son of a failed farmer, Cobden became a celebrity within his life as both a politician and activist. Cobden spent much of his career attacking the Corn Laws, a set of restrictive policies that dramatically increased the price of food in Britain. But an often overlooked aspect of Cobden's career is his staunch opposition to British wars abroad. He saw no benefit for Britain in meddling in the affairs of other nations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    british britain apostles free trade cobden corn laws richard cobden
    Frédéric Bastiat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2020 24:54


    Bastiat began his foray into politics as an advocate of the free market, but he quickly realized that the principles of freedom ought to be applied to all aspects of life. Bastiat believed the state was often used as a weapon by some against others and so the solution was to limit the state radically. Today, Bastiat is rightly remembered for his entertaining, witty, and memorable writings, which take complicated concepts and make them accessible to a person of any background. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The African Enlightenment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2020 17:26


    The conventional narrative is that Enlightenment values are uniquely Western values. But this narrative becomes questionable when we look at Zera Yacob, an Ethiopian philosopher who predated the Enlightenment but came to many philosophical views that would form the core of Enlightenment values. Zera's methodology closely resembles Rene Descartes and comes to conclusions that echo John Locke's theory of natural law and religious toleration. In some ways, Zera even surpasses his western counterparts with a firm commitment to anti-racism and anti-sexist attitudes. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Libertarianism at School: Maria Montessori

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2020 22:45


    From a young age, Maria Montessori defied the conventions and standards of her time studying engineering a field dominated by men and moving on to medicine, becoming the first degreed female physician in Italy. Through her work in medicine treating children, Maria began to study the education of children. She realized that the standard methods of educating children were failing abysmally. She created her own system, which treated children as spontaneous, creative, and, most importantly, autonomous individuals. The end goal education for Maria was making a child independent and self-sufficient. Her methods were highly effective, and she became a figure of international renown establishing schools across the globe throughout her busy internationally-focused life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Dismantling the State with Étienne De La Boétie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2020 19:35


    While in college at the young age of eighteen, Étienne De La Boétie wrote a Discourse on Voluntary Servitude a book which attempted to explain why people obey tyrants despite their better judgement. Étienne explains how tyranny endures through the powers of habit, trickery, and patronage. But by far, Étienne’s most unique view is that the state must be dismantled by simple acts of mass civil disobedience reminding rulers we can always choose not to obey. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    discourse dismantling labo voluntary servitude
    The Founding Feminist Mary Wollstonecraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 23:32


    Mary Wollstonecraft had a tough life, her father was an abusive drunk and her families’ economic fortunes were ever worsening. Tired of the oppressive nature of home life Mary left and attempted to become an independent woman something that was extremely uncommon in the 18th-century. Despite the challenges in here way Mary became a respected public intellectual in her day writing two Vindications of the rights of men and women in which she discusses how to achieve a more equal and virtuous society that takes into account both men and women’s rights and progress. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Auberon Herbert and Voluntaryism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 18:55


    Auberon Herbert was born into a wealthy English aristocratic family and started his political career. But after witnessing the horrors of war through Europe and America and witnessing the incompetence of parliament, he lost faith in the abilities of the state. Inspired by the writing of Herbert Spencer Auberon set out to articulate a political philosophy emphasizing the importance of consent and the voluntary state, which is strictly limited to the protection of our natural and self-evident rights. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Taking the King to Court, John Cooke

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 21:18


    Despite being born into poverty John Cooke attained an education as a lawyer. While practicing law he realized the unfairness of the current legal system and wrote about how it ought to be reformed to be a system where a crime is a crime no matter who commits it. After the English Civil War King Charles I was put on trial for his heinous crimes, Cooke was the only lawyer in London brave enough to prosecute the king of the country. Despite his obscurity, John Cooke was a remarkable figure who ultimately led to way in articulating why even heads of state should be answerable to the law. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    court cooke john cooke
    Rehabilitating Democracy, George Grote

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 19:05


    For a long time, the word democracy was synonymous with anarchy due to the horror stories of ancient Athenian democracy. The self-taught polymath and enthusiastic democrat George Grote rehabilitated democracy by arguing that Athens, the birthplace of democracy, was a vibrant and liberal society. Grote was no mere academic; he was also on the frontline for the fight for democratic rights such as the secret ballot and a more inclusive voting system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Separating the Church and State, Marsilius of Padua

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 15:28


    Discussions of monarchy and hierarchy usually dominate medieval political thought. The 14-century thinker Marsilius of Padua breaks with his contemporaries arguing the church and state should be separate entities and that laws should be based on the consent and common good of all. Despite being a medieval mind, Marsilius has a distinctly modern voice. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Poullain and Equality

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2020 16:26


    Despite his obscurity, François Poullain de la Barre is a philosopher who thought beyond the constraints of his time. In 17th-century France Poullain articulated a case for gender equality. His proposal was so radical few took it seriously at the time. Poullain is still relevant today for his analysis of how oppression is “justified” and how to unlearn prejudices. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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