Libertarian Debates: Persuasion and Ideological Alliances

Gene Epstein, a dear friend of the Tom Woods show, discussed his health condition and a recent debate on persuading more people to libertarianism.

### Gene Epstein: Debating the Non-Aggression Principle, the Role of Government, and Forming Alliances Across the Political Spectrum
* 🗣 Gene Epstein debated Dennis Pratt on the resolution that "a better way to persuade more people of libertarianism is to convince them of the **ethics stemming from self-ownership and the non-aggression principle** without relying primarily on **consequentialist utilitarian arguments**."
* 📚 Epstein believes that while foundational principles like **self-ownership** and the **non-aggression principle** are crucial, a combination of both **deontological and consequentialist arguments** can be effective in persuading people to libertarian ideas.
* 📈 He argues that finding examples where government intervention causes harm can help illustrate the benefits of libertarian policies, and that it may not be **necessary to be an expert in every policy area** to make a compelling case for libertarianism.
* 🏛 Epstein suggests that libertarians should be open to forming alliances with fellow travelers who share common goals, even if they do not adhere strictly to the **non-aggression principle**.
* 🧠 He references Murray Rothbard's book "**For a New Liberty**" as a **comprehensive consequentialist defense of libertarianism** that covers a **wide range of policy issues**.
* 🇮🇱 In a discussion on US foreign policy regarding Israel and the Palestinians, Epstein highlights the importance of **focusing on property rights** when addressing the conflict.
* 🏞 While left-wing allies may be valuable in certain policy areas, Epstein notes that they may not be as likely to support libertarian initiatives like **moving to the Free State of New Hampshire**.
* 🎗 Epstein shares his personal journey from being a member of the Communist Party to becoming a libertarian, emphasizing the **potential for intellectual growth and change**.

### Gene Epstein: The Soho Forum's Upcoming Debates, Rothbardian Economics, and Matt Ridley's Visit
* 🗣 Gene Epstein discusses the Soho Forum's upcoming debates, where Matt Ridley will argue that **SARS-CoV-2 originated from a lab in Wuhan**, and Bartle Laffer will defend **Trump as a candidate**.
* 📉 Epstein believes that the key differences between the Austrian and Chicago schools of economics lie in their treatment of **empirical data** and their understanding of the role of the **capitalist and the entrepreneur**.
* 🏗 According to Rothbard, all capital goods are ultimately derived from **land and labor**, and Epstein's failure to explain this foundational concept in the debate with David Friedman may have led to the audience **losing track of the discussion**.
* 📈 The concept of **diminishing marginal utility**, which states that the utility of additional units of a good decreases as more are consumed, was a point of contention between Rothbard and Friedman.
* 📚 Epstein criticizes mainstream economics for its focus on **indifference curves** in consumer spending theory, arguing that it fails to capture the **dynamic and ever-changing nature of consumer choices**.
* 🎉 Epstein invites listeners to attend the Soho Forum's upcoming debates and afterparties, including the event with Matt Ridley, who is known for his **engaging writing on science issues**.
* 🎁 At Epstein's murder mystery parties, the winner receives an official Soho Forum notebook featuring a likeness of Epstein with the caption "**learn some economics**," inspired by an incident where Epstein **lost his temper** during a debate.
* 🤝 Epstein and Friedman plan to have a broader debate on Friedman's critique of Rothbard, but Epstein believes that the **complex nature of the topic** may require a **multi-hour discussion**.

How to Win Arguments, with Gene Epstein | TWS #2510

Keep up with New York Times bestselling author and Liberty Classroom founder Tom Woods on TomWoodsTV.

TomWoodsTV

Gene Epstein, former economics and book review editor at Barons, is now directing the Soho Forum, a popular debate series.

Despite being pushed out of Barons, he is in a great mood after attending the Porcupine Festival in New Hampshire.

Epstein has a two-fold plan for the future, which he keeps mysterious, and he recently participated in two debates at the festival.

A person shares their experience of living with dystonia, a movement disorder that causes muscle contractions.

Despite trying various treatments, including Botox injections, they are now considering deep brain stimulation surgery.

The individual finds relief from their symptoms when engaging in activities like debates and interviews, but still struggles with the condition on a daily basis.

Virtual Storefronts: Helping Local Businesses Go Online

Virtual Storefronts offers a quick and easy way for local businesses to establish an online presence and improve their visibility in search engines.

The platform handles the back end of the online store, allowing businesses to set it up and then forget about it without the need for maintenance.

It is available for a wide range of locally owned businesses, providing them with the opportunity to communicate with the public and attract more customers.

Debating Libertarianism and Socialist Principles

Deberg emphasizes the possibility of worker co-ops under capitalism and the importance of respecting markets.

He also highlights the argument that government involvement is the root of many problems, using examples to illustrate this point.

Additionally, Deberg mentions Murray Rothbard's book as a comprehensive discussion of libertarianism's foundational principles and its evolution.

The Challenge of Persuading People to Embrace Libertarianism

The key to persuading people to embrace libertarianism is to start with the most important issues, such as reducing the size of government.

It's more effective to gradually lead people to the principles of libertarianism rather than overwhelming them with extreme ideas from the start.

Forming alliances and focusing on the goal of shrinking the government by 80% to 90% can help in persuading more people to become small L libertarians.

Missed Opportunity to Attract Newcomers to the Free State

There was a missed opportunity to attract people to the Free State who want to reduce government involvement, regardless of their stance on the non-aggression principle.

The Free State advocates should focus on welcoming those who see the government as the root of the problem and believe in the power of capitalism.

Despite the potential for alliances with left-wing individuals on foreign policy, it is unlikely that they would relocate to the Free State, but those open to the ideas of capitalism could be potential targets.

The speaker is inviting people to a murder mystery party through Woodsmystery.

They are offering a notebook with Jee Epstein's likeness as a prize.

The speaker also discusses a debate on Austrian versus Chicago schools with David Freeman.

The debate delved into technical aspects of economic theory, specifically regarding capital, labor, and resource allocation.

The speaker expressed a difference in opinion regarding the factors of production, emphasizing the primary role of resources and labor in creating capital.

The discussion aimed to highlight the controversy and significance of these economic concepts, acknowledging that they may not be familiar to the general audience.

David Fredman's Objection and Difference of Opinion

David Fredman is objecting to the fast-paced discussion and lack of definition of terms in the conversation.

He disagrees with the idea of diminishing marginal utility and presents a different perspective on the value of goods.

Fredman feels that there was not enough time for a proper debate or seminar, leading to a misconception of the discussion's format and duration.

The Debate on Consumer Spending and Indifference Curves

The debate focused on the concept of indifference in mainstream economics and its relevance to consumer spending.

Rothbart argued that the emphasis on indifference curves in mainstream economics violates Occam's razor and is extraneous to consumer decision-making.

There was also a discussion about the need to break down complex economic concepts more slowly to resonate with a wider audience.

The Challenge of Debating Complex Economic Issues

Debating complex economic issues in a limited time frame can be challenging, especially when trying to cover foundational topics.

It is difficult to effectively discuss and debate the ideas of prominent economists in just 90 minutes, considering the need to lay the groundwork for understanding.

Allocating more time for debates is crucial to thoroughly address the complexities of economic theories and their implications.

Tom is organizing three debates in August and September, allocating 80 minutes for each with no rebuttal time.

The debates will feature speakers like Bart Laugher, David Stockman, and Mike Trat, discussing the upcoming presidential candidates.

Matt Ridley, a draw for the events, will also be attending the Afterparty in New York.

Tickets for the events are selling quickly, especially for the debate on the origin of Covid-19.