George Smith discusses Kant’s attempt to justify objective moral principles and his views on when the use of coercion is morally proper. Originally published in essay form on April 15, 2016 

Excursions into Libertarian Thought

Immanuel Kant and the Natural Law Tradition

George Smith explains some fundamental features of Immanuel Kant’s moral and political theory. Originally published in essay form on April 8, 2016 

A Few Kind Words about the Most Evil Man in Mankind’s History

George Smith discusses some good and bad influences that Ayn Rand’s ideas had on his own intellectual development. Originally published in essay form on April 1, 2016 

Some Personal Reflections on Ayn Rand

George Smith examines some of Rand’s claims about the beneficial influence of Aristotle’s ideas on the course of Western civilization. Originally published in essay form on March 4, 2016 

Ayn Rand on Aristotle

George Smith discusses the issue of whether we should hold a philosopher responsible for the beliefs of those followers who agree with him. Originally published in essay form on February 26, 2016.  

On the Influence of Ideas

George Smith explains the views of Kant and Hegel on the history of philosophy, and explores whether moral judgments should be applied to the realm of ideas. Originally published in essay form on February 19, 2016 

Some Reflections on the History of Philosophy

Was Kant somehow responsible for the rise of Nazism? Smith explores two points of view on this issue. Originally published in essay form on February 5, 2016 

Immanuel Kant and Nazism

George H. Smith discusses the mythological thinking that dominated Nazi ideology, as explained in Cassirer’s book The Myth of the State. Originally published in essay form on January 29, 2016.  

Ernst Cassirer on Fascism and National Socialism

George Smith discusses whether we should hold a philosopher responsible for how other philosophers use his or her ideas. Originally published in essay form on February 12, 2016 

Ayn Rand and the History of Philosophy

George H. Smith explores Rand’s contention that America was sliding down a slippery slope to fascism. Originally published in essay form on January 8, 2016.

Ayn Rand on Fascism

Smith examines and criticizes Richard Ashcraft’s arguments that Locke was significantly influenced by the Levellers. Originally published in essay form on December 18, 2015.  

John Locke: A Leveller Connection?

George H. Smith explains an important controversy about when the Two Treatises was written, and the possible influence of the Levellers on Locke. Originally published in essay form on December 4, 2015.  

John Locke: In Search of the Radical Locke

George H. Smith explains the significance, for Locke, of the increased productivity caused by labor, and the relationship between money and property. Originally published in essay form on November 20, 2015.  

John Locke: Money and Private Property

George H. Smith explains how Locke dealt with some problems in the traditional Christian theory of private property. Originally published in essay form on November 6, 2015.  

John Locke: Some Qualifications in Locke’s Theory of Property

George H. Smith discusses Robert Nozick’s criticisms of Locke’s property theory and the relationship between a natural-law justification of property and social conventions. Originally published in essay form on October 30, 2015.  

John Locke: Some Problems in Locke’s Theory of Private Property

George H. Smith explores the history of libertarian ideas. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.

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Excursions into Libertarian Thought

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