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We explore philosophy, politics, economics, and other ideas from a classical liberal perspective.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes329Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Curious Task

Latest Episodes

Matt speaks with Jason Crawford (Roots of Progress Institute) about “technohumanism”—the view that science, technology, and industry are good insofar as they advance human flourishing. They dig into agency vs. accelerationism, why progress creates ne... more

In this episode, Matt speaks with Rachel Davison Humphries, Senior Director of Civic Learning Initiatives at the Bill of Rights Institute, about how rituals like Halloween can strengthen democracy by building trust and social capital in communities. more

In this conversation from 2020, Alex Aragona speaks with Mustafa Akyol as he explores whether Islam can be compatible with liberalism, and his recent research on freedom in Muslim-majority countries.

References from Episode 70 with Mustafa Akyol

... more

In this episode, Alex speaks with political researcher Sam Routley about how conservatism is changing in Canada. Drawing on his article “Decoding Canada’s Conservative Coalition” published in The Hub, Routley explains why Canada’s conservative moveme... more

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Recent Guests

Jason Crawford
Founder of the Roots of Progress Institute and author of The Techno-Humanist Manifesto.
Roots of Progress Institute
Episode: What Is Technohumanism? - Jason Crawford
Rachel Humphries
Senior Director of Civic Learning Initiatives at the Bill of Rights Institute and author of the article Treats for Democracy
Bill of Rights Institute
Episode: Can Halloween Save Democracy? - Rachel Humphries
Sam Routley
Writer and PhD student in political science at the University of Western Ontario.
University of Western Ontario
Episode: How Is Conservatism Changing In Canada? - Sam Routley
Robert Poole
Director of Transportation Policy and the Cyril Freedom Trust Transportation Fellow at Reason Foundation.
Reason Foundation
Episode: Robert Poole - What's Wrong With America's Highways?
Kevin Vallier
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University, author of 'All The Kingdoms Of The World' and other works
Bowling Green State University
Episode: Kevin Vallier - What Are The New Religious Threats To Liberalism?
Chandran Kukathas
Dean and Lee Kong Chan Chair Professor of Political Science at Singapore Management University and author focused on liberalism and immigration.
Singapore Management University
Episode: Chandran Kukathas - What’s Wrong With Immigration Control?
Bruce Pardy
Professor of Law at Queens University, Executive Director of Rights Probe
Episode: Bruce Pardy - Freedom Or Virtue?
Ben Woodfinden
Doctoral candidate at McGill University, political and constitutional theorist.
McGill University
Episode: Ben Woodfinden - What Is Canadian Conservatism?
Bill Wirtz
Senior policy analyst at the Consumer Choice Centre, focusing on evidence-based policy making, agricultural and trade policy, and lifestyle choice issues.
Consumer Choice Centre
Episode: Bill Wirtz - Why Do Governments Hate Fun?

Hosts

Alex Aragona
Host with a focus on exploring philosophical and political themes from a classical liberal perspective.
Matt Bufton
Host focusing on liberal themes in discussions with experts and scholars.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 55 ratings
  • Great punchy podcast for Econ Enjoyers

    Found this podcast through extensive searching -thought I would give it a try. Alex (host) gets excellent, well known and respected economists to come and discuss a variety of economic, social, and political topics. He keeps the guests rolling, always keeping it to a manageable time limit, always leaving you wanting just a bit more. I have found a few good books and essays this way, and enjoyed the listen along the journey. Thank you for this great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    docheretolisten
    United States4 years ago
  • An engaging and intellectually stimulating podcast!

    I really enjoyed the Sandra Peart episode recently! She was amazing in providing a broad yet informative overview of Mill's key ideas. The Curious Task always manages to pack in so much in an hour (big kudos to alex and the production team!), and I always take away from it something new to think about in both my school and personal life! I would recommending this podcast to anyone who wants to understand more about the core liberal ideas that lay the foundations of our government and society.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nicnac570
    Canada5 years ago
  • Intellectually stimulating

    Great podcast about classical liberal ideas. If you’re not sure what that means, just start with episode one!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    josh19888
    Canada5 years ago
  • Classical liberalism on demand

    The Curious Task introduces listeners to academic ideas surrounding the classical liberal tradition. If you are curious about ideas or want to explore a particular topic of discussion, this podcast is for you. There is no secret, this podcast is created by the Institute for Liberal Studies, in Canada. You should expect to hear a liberal point of view from the guests and host in most cases. What may surprise you is how even handed this is on the show. This is not a podcast for liberal sound bites... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WLGarrisonian
    United States5 years ago
  • Good podcast

    You love Liberty? This is the best canadian podcast about it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Warlordsalec
    Canada6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The expertise of guests and the host's ability to guide conversations are frequently praised, providing depth and clarity to complex topics.
Many find the podcast a valuable resource for understanding classical liberal ideas and appreciate its engaging format.
Listeners appreciate the intellectually stimulating content and the high level of academic discussion.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Is Technohumanism? - Jason Crawford
Q: What is the role of technology in society?
Technology should be viewed as a means to enhance human potential and quality of life, not an end in itself.
What Is Technohumanism? - Jason Crawford
Q: How do you define progress?
Progress in science and technology is gaining more knowledge and better inventions leading to increased human well-being.
What Is Technohumanism? - Jason Crawford
Q: What is techno-humanism?
It's the idea that science, technology and industry are good, forces for good that promote human life and flourishing.
Can Halloween Save Democracy? - Rachel Humphries
Q: Is trick-or-treating becoming less common?
It varies widely community to community; some neighborhoods see many trick-or-treaters, while others see very few.
Can Halloween Save Democracy? - Rachel Humphries
Q: What are the virtues of Halloween as a civic tradition?
Halloween is important for creating trust and community bonds among neighbors.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Curious Task

What is The Curious Task about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on philosophy, politics, and economics, this podcast offers discussions from a classical liberal perspective, engaging with a range of themes central to contemporary societal debates. Listeners can expect rigorous explorations of democracy, immigration, education, and the nuances of liberalism, among other intellectual inquiries. Special guests often include academics and policy experts who provide valuable insights, making each episode both informative and thought-provoking.

Each episode features a deep examination of relevant issues, often challenging prevailing assumptions in a charitable manner. Notably, the conversations are structured to foster understanding rather than just debate, presenting a unique platform for learning ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Curious Task?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Curious Task:

1. EconTalk
2. The Good Fight
3. The Marginal Revolution Podcast
4. Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning
5. Conversations with Tyler

How many episodes of The Curious Task are there?

The Curious Task launched 6 years ago and published 329 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Curious Task?

Recent guests on The Curious Task include:

1. Jason Crawford
2. Rachel Humphries
3. Sam Routley
4. Robert Poole
5. Kevin Vallier
6. Chandran Kukathas
7. Bruce Pardy
8. Ben Woodfinden

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