Freedom or Virtue?
The Curious Task podcast: Prof. Bruce Pardy joins Matt Bufton to examine the inherent tension between freedom and virtue. [First aired on July 9, 2025]
Prof. Pardy contends that “freedom people”—classical liberals and libertarians—view virtue as something that can only arise when individuals have the freedom to choose, whereas “virtue people” argue that virtue must be prioritized, even if it requires state enforcement.
Pardy and Bufton delve into topics ranging from the limits of state neutrality, city planning and drug policy, to the reality of authoritarian tendencies on both the right and the left.
Prof. Pardy elaborates on why a truly free society entails risks and why embracing those risks is essential for fostering genuine virtue and responsibility.
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