Richard Epstein vs Dick Posner

Man, I am really falling behind on keeping this site up. I don't know why it is such a chore for me just to post links. Anyway, sorry for falling behind. If you're like me, you've wondered about the professional relationship of Epstein and Posner. The two share a lot of similarities.

Posner is undoubtedly the more famous and influential, and Epstein is undoubtedly the more talented and brilliant. But their interests and biographies share so many similarities that comparisons are inevitable. Well, now you can watch them duke it out on the issue of patent reform:

 

And Epstein talks some more about himself and Posner at the beginning of this great Law Talk episode: http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Under-Oath

Oh, and looks like there's a new episode of The Libertarian, too! I'll have to check this one out manana: http://0055d26.netsolhost.com/libertarian/20130508.mp3

Richard Epstein Speech - Skepticism and Freedom

Just finished reading this transcription of a fantastic speech Richard Epstein gave in 2002: http://www.aei.org/speech/politics-and-public-opinion/skepticism-and-freedom-speech/

I came across it because someone had been posting an intriguing excerpt on other blogs (an excerpt that was taken out of context, mis-attributed, and misunderstood), and I wanted to read the full thing.

The speech is not to be confused with his book Skepticism and Freedom.

Best of Richard Epstein

Richard Epstein is, in my view, the greatest thinker and speaker of this (and possibly any) generation, and we are extraordinarily lucky to be able to record his talks for repeated listening. Picking a favorite Epstein talk isn't easy, as every time the man opens his mouth originality and genius spill out. But when I think back on the dozens (hundreds?) of Epstein talks I've listened to since discovering him, two stand out as particularly special, and a third comes to mind as a great summary of his policy views. So I thought I'd put them together here for anyone who wants to hear the best of the best by the best of the best.

Richard Epstein on the Morality of Capitalism

In the following video, Richard Epstein argues for the morality of capitalism. He talks about the virtues of free enterprise all the time, but this one is especially poignant for the way he addresses the human condition:


Richard Epstein - The Moral and Economic Foundations of Capitalism - Spring 2008 Pope Lecture from Clemson Institute on Vimeo.

Richard Epstein on Happiness

The following audio interview is about happiness. This one is truly a King Lear of extemporaneous talks. The conversation goes from economics and happiness research to become the most fascinating talk about evolutionary psychology I've ever heard. Like all Epstein talks, it's difficult and merits repeat listening.

LINK: Richard Epstein on Happiness

A Summary of Richard Epstein's Policy Views

These interviews on the Free Market Series are less earth-shattering if you are a regular follower of Epstein, but they are a fantastic introduction to his basic policy positions on a number of subjects.

Part 1:

And here is part 2:

The Smartest Person in the World

The world is full of intellectuals, but I believe Epstein is categorically special among intellectuals in the same way Shakespeare is categorically special among playwrights. Part of my mission with this blog is to lobby for his position at the top of the heap, because I believe the whole world benefits if people take him more seriously.

Richard Epstein on Happiness

I'm falling behind. Lots of great recent stuff from Richard Epstein, but I've been too lazy to update the blog lately. I'll get on it soon.

I'm heading to the gym in a bit where I'll listen to this this podcast where Richard Epstein talks about happiness. Is there any subject he doesn't cover??

I'm glad to report that my brainy lawyer friend Barry is now a full-fledged Epstein disciple. He described listening to Epstein as a kind of religious experience lol. I like the idea of building a club around the smartest person in the world. I mean, imagine if you could shoot an email to Aristotle and get a response? lol

EDIT: Just got home from the gym and finished the podcast. Wow. One of the best Epstein talks ever!

The Richard Epstein AMA on Reddit

Is now live!!! Check in and ask the Professor anything about anything, because he knows everything about everything!

Richard Epstein's 10 Point Plan

Richard Epstein was on something called the Free Market Series, and apparently they were so blown away by him that they asked him back to do a second episode. Both are amazing.

I also found this nice little video where he slams the minimum wage:

Epstein on the Climate

First of all, here's another great explanation of libertarianism from Richard Epstein: Epstein on Libertarianism

And here is his latest from Hoover on the Voting Rights Act: The Mirage of Racism

The latest Libertarian podcast: The Voting Rights Act

Now, here's what threw me for a loop. I had never really heard Richard Epstein talk about climate change until I found this: Epstein talks about climate science

That video starts out awesome, with Epstein kicking everyone's ass intellectually in the way only he can do. But then he starts talking about climate science. Now, my understanding of global warming and all that is mostly informed by just a Teaching Company lecture series I listened to on the subject which left me convinced that while there are very smart objections raised by very smart skeptics, at the end of the day the science is still pretty compelling that anthropogenic climate change is real.

Climate skeptics include the likes of genius physicist Freeman Dyson, so I'm not entirely surprised when brilliant people express skepticism on the subject. But Richard Epstein is not just any brilliant person. I expect him to be right about, well, everything he says. Is it possible that he could be flat wrong about a subject as big and controversial as climate change?

Well, I'm going to claim agnosticism on this one. I really don't know if Epstein is as solid on climate science as the climate scientists who think differently than he does, or if in fact there are many climate scientists who share Epstein's views. I just finished reading this fascinating article by Epstein that goes into the subject in much greater detail: Richard Epstein on Carbon Dioxide That article presents far more nuanced views that he seems to express in the video, such that he comes across as more moderate on the issue than skeptical, per se. And the six point proposal he offers in the end is a must-read.