Kinsella On Liberty

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 044. This is my speech "Correcting Some Common Libertarian Misconceptions," delivered on May 28, 2011, at the Annual Meeting of the Property and Freedom Society. The video is here, and streamed below; here is the powerpoint presentation. Re-presented as PFP076. Transcript available here. Related: KOL 045 | “Libertarian Controversies Lecture 1” (Mises Academy, 2011) KOL023 | “Libertarian Legal Theory: Property, Conflict, and Society: Lecture 6: Applications Continued; Common Libertarian Mistakes (Fraud Etc.)” (Mises Academy, 2011) KOL206 | Tom Woods Show: Five Mistakes Libertarians Make KOL185: Clarifying Libertarian Theory (Liberty.me, July 2014) KOL118 | Tom Woods Show: Against Fuzzy Thinking [This speech was discussed previously on the Mises blog with extensive comments, and also on my blog] Update: Thanks to Joseph Fetz with help cleaning up the original audio file.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 043. This is my appearance on Michael Shanklin’s Triple-V: Voluntary Virtues Vodcast with Michael Shanklin (April 25, 2013). We discussed a variety of issues, including: Bitcoin, the police state, legal reform (jury nullification, loser-pays rules), the morality of voting, Rothbard on copyright (for more: see Against Intellectual Property, "Contract vs. Reserved Rights" section, and Rothbard’s “High Tech ‘Crime’: A Call for Papers” (1983)), the history of patent and copyright (for more: see Karl Fogel's article The Surprising History of Copyright and The Promise of a Post-Copyright World), and other issues. Our previous discussion: KOL 025 | Triple-V: Voluntary Virtues Vodcast, with Michael Shanklin: Intellectual Property, Ron Paul vs RonPaul.Com, Aaron Swartz, Corporatism.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 042. This is a reading of my  paper "Estoppel: A New Justification for Individual Rights," which was published in Reason Papers No. 17 (Fall 1992). It was narrated by Carlos Morales on the Renegade Variety Hour podcast (April 18, 2013). This was the first of my libertarian theory works and a precursor to other articles such as "Punishment and Proportionality: The Estoppel Approach," Journal of Libertarian Studies 12:1 (Spring 1996),  "New Rationalist Directions in Libertarian Rights Theory," Journal of Libertarian Studies 12:2  (Fall 1996), and “Argumentation Ethics and Liberty: A Concise Guide,” Mises Daily (May 27, 2011) (the latter of which includes “Discourse Ethics and Liberty: A Skeletal Ebook”).

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 041. This is from Episode 367 of the Bad Quaker podcast, with Ben Stone.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 040. [Update: KOL186: Great IP Debate with Baker-Kinsella] This is a discussion about IP with a fellow Austro-anarchist libertarian, Alexander Baker, who initially accepted the anti-IP argument I and others have made, but who has since moved to a type of pro-IP position. We had a few email discussions in recent months about this, but I was unable to persuade him that his approach was misguided. We decided to have a (friendly) discussion about it. Baker calls his theory "intellectual space" and has a new blog devoted to this "libertarian theory of intangible property"; he sketches his position in his post Intro to Intellectual Space. We had a very interesting, civil discussion, which is rare for discussions with IP advocates (see, e.g., KOL 038 | Debate with Robert Wenzel on Intellectual Property). Baker was honest and forthright, willing to admit what he is not yet sure about; he admitted his own bias for IP given that his career (as a musical composer) depends in part

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 039. I was a guest recently on the Renegade Variety Hour (discussing intellectual property and other issues), with hosts Carlos Morales and Taryn Harris (recorded April 5, 2013, podcast April 10, 2013). I met them at the recent Liberty in the Pines conference and was happy to talk with them.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 038. [Update: see my post Wenzel the Werewolf] Blogger Robert Wenzel and I had a "debate" earlier today about IP, to be jointly put up on my podcast and his Economic Policy Journal "podcast" (it's on his site at Kinsella Crushed!! and Initial Report on Debate, and mentioned ahead of time several times as linked below). Bob is an Austrian libertarian (I think) blogger but has been criticizing me and Jeff Tucker's anti-IP views for a few years now (see links below), so we decided to discuss it. (( Note: I failed to record the audio at my end until 1:07:10, but my audio quality was better. So I spliced in the better second half from my recording. So starting at 1:07:10 you can hear better audio quality at my end, and no worse at Wenzel's. )) The transcript is available here. Youtube: Backup copy: The discussion went on for over 2 hours. It went about as I expected: he tried to dwell on side points, he refused to—was unable to—even attempt to define IP much less prov

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 037. [Transcript.] I spoke last weekend at the "Liberty in the Pines" (facebook event) conference at Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, Texas. Sponsored by the Young Americans for Liberty chapter and the Charles Koch Foundation, this one-day event brought together liberty-lovers of all stripes from surrounding areas. My speech was "Locke’s Big Mistake: How the Labor Theory of Property Ruined Political Theory."  Stefan Molyneux and Jeff Tucker appeared and delivered speeches as well (with Jeff's inspiring keynote resulting in a resounding standing ovation). Walter Block conducted an "Ask a Libertarian" Q&A session (remotely), and relative newcomer Jessica Hughes delivered a surprisingly radical and resounding speech on "The Constitution of Faux Authority." [Update: See Liberty in the Pines Roundup.] This podcast episode includes my speech and Q&A (about 54 minutes) plus the panel Q&A (about another 50 minutes). The panel Q&A touched on issues like peacefu

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 036. I was a last-minute guest last week for the Rothbardian Circle (substituting for Dan D'Amico), a Miami-based discussion group, for their event "Introduction to Free Markets/Libertarian Theory" (Mar. 20, 2013). We discussed a variety of issues, mostly in a Q&A format, including the essentials of libertarian property theory, Lockean homesteading, Rothbard's idea of the "relevant technological unit," the labor theory of property, intellectual property, and other issues. The event was reported in the article Republicans and Libertarians team up for the Rothbardian Circle.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 035. This is from my Antiwar Interview: Kinsella on Bill of Rights, Intellectual Property by host Scott Horton (Feb. 11, 2010). We discussed "the federal government’s appropriation of the Bill of Rights – through the 14th Amendment – to regulate state powers, the debate about whether current lawlessness can rightfully be blamed on deviation from the beneficent Constitution or if the problem lies in the deeply flawed document itself and why ideas can’t be property." For more on the latter, see the C4SIF Resources page.  For more on constitutional sentimentalism and related issues, see  “Thumbs Down on the Fourth of July” (and posts linked therein) and On Constitutional Sentimentalism. Antiwar Radio: Stephan Kinsella   *** Antiwar Radio: Stephan Kinsella Posted by Scott in February 11th, 2010 No Comments Yet Posted in: Uncategorized Tags: Antiwar Radio, Scott-Horton, Stephan Kinsella Stephan Kinsella, fellow at the Mises Institute and author of the book Against Int

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 034. I was a guest yesterday on Jake Shannon's libertarian "Mental Self Defense" radio show discussing intellectual property (what's new). Good host.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 033. I was interviewed back on Jan. 20, 2010 by Mark Edge, as part of his “Edgington Post Interview Series,” for his Free Talk Live radio show, about my Mises Daily article, “Reducing the Cost of IP Law.” The interview is lasts about 35 minutes, and starts at 2:02:36 in the original Jan. 20, 2010 show, which I have trimmed here. Edge conducted an excellent interview–very informed and interesting. And, like many others, he’s come around to the anti-IP position. (See, on this, Have You Changed Your Mind About Intellectual Property?, Yet another Randian recants on IP, The Death Throes of Pro-IP Libertarianism, The Origins of Libertarian IP Abolitionism.) This podcast was discussed previously on the Mises blog.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 032. From Kinsella on Bill Handel Show Discussing Blackmail, Tiger Woods, David Letterman (Dec. 14, 2009) (Mises): I was a guest on the Bill Handel Show in late 2009 discussing the libertarian perspective on blackmail, with reference to the Tiger Woods and other cases. (See my post Blackmail should be legal: the case of David Letterman.) We also touched on common law versus legislation (see my Legislation and Law in a Free Society), intellectual property, reputation rights and defamation law, prostitution, and extortion. Handel, though apparently not a libertarian, was a very smart and fair host. See the Bill Handel Show podcast.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 031. This is my appearance on the Smash Walls Radio Podcast, Episode 9: Patent Shenanigans, with host Trevor Hultner. We discussed patent trolls, the SHIELD Act, and related matters. For more on that issue, see Patent trolls as mafioso (and that’s a compliment) and The SHIELD Act doesn’t go far enough: protect victims of all patent aggressors, not just “trolls”. Update: See Trevor Hultner: Patent “Trolls” are Bad. Patents are Worse.

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 030. This is an interview of Derek Khanna, a conservative/libertarian pro-innovation and pro-free market activist. Khanna was the Congressional staffer who authored a copyright reform brief for the Republican Study Committee (the conservative caucus of House Republicans). The brief was entitled Three Myths about Copyright Law and Where to Start to Fix it, and attacked current copyright law and proposed sweeping, significant changes—reducing statutory damages, expanding fair use, punishing false copyright claims, and significantly limiting copyright terms. The brief was immediately taken down, and Khanna no longer works on Capitol Hill. (See House Republicans: Copyright Law Destroys Markets; It's Time For Real Reform; Heroic and Radical Republican Study Committee Copyright Reform Proposal Retracted under Pressure from MPAA and RIAA, Techdirt Interview With Derek Khanna, Author Of The RSC 'Fix Copyright' Policy Briefing, Republican Study Committee Dumps Derek Khanna, Author

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 029. This is my appearance on Episode 18 of First Degree Liberty: Ethics with Stephan Kinsella, with hosts Chase Rachels and Michael Martelli. We discussed argumentation ethics and the title-transfer theory of contract, and other issues (originally recorded Mar. 4, 2013; released Mar. 5, 2013). For background on some of the issues discussed, see my articles and posts: Argumentation Ethics and Liberty: A Concise Guide New Rationalist Directions in Libertarian Rights Theory A Libertarian Theory of Contract: Title Transfer, Binding Promises, and Inalienability Justice and Property Rights: Rothbard on Scarcity, Property, Contracts…

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 028. My old friend Jack Criss (ProBizMS [now Delta Business Journal], Ready, Aim, Right! (2)) and I had a discussion reminiscing about how we became friends 25 years ago, our early Objectivist phases, how communication and the movement has changed over the years, his 1980s libertarian radio talk show in Jackson, MS. We touched on many issues including where the liberty movement stands today, optimism vs. cynicism, entrepreneurs and government interference, Ayn Rand's best novel, why politics is futile and much more...

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 027. I was invited to be a guest on The Peter Mac Show in late 2009 and ended up staying on for both hours. It was a pretty in-depth interview. The host asked impressively intelligent questions for someone who had just started coming around to the anti-IP position (after reading my Intellectual Property and Libertarianism just the day before—impressive).

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 026. This is FreeDomain Radio episode 2336, in which host Stefan Molyneux and I discussed libertarian aspects of corporations and limited liability law. (Originally recorded Feb. 22, 2013, released by FDR on Feb. 26.) For more on this issue see my Libertarian Standard post Corporate Personhood, Limited Liability, and Double Taxation; and KOL100 | The Role of the Corporation and Limited Liability In a Free Society (PFS 2013).

Kinsella on Liberty Podcast, Episode 025. This is my appearance on Michael Shanklin's Triple-V: Voluntary Virtues Vodcast with Michael Shanklin (Feb. 26, 2013; originally recorded Feb. 25, 2013). We discussed intellectual property and a few other matters, such as the Ron Paul vs RonPaul.Com dispute, Aaron Swartz, Corporatism, and the like. For the initial discussion of IP and what is wrong with it, I relied on the type of explanation I provide in Intellectual Property Rights as Negative Servitudes.