Richard Epstein on Classical Liberalism, the Administrative State, Free Speech, Silicon Valley Regulation

Big Ideas with Ben Weingarten

Professor Richard Epstein is the inaugural Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law at NYU School of Law. He previously served as the Peter and Kirstin Bedford Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution since 2000. Professor Epstein is also the James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law Emeritus and a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago where he taught for 38 years. He is a prolific writer who has authored more than a dozen books on topics ranging from private property to torts, and anti-discrimination law to antitrust, a frequent podcaster and one of the most cited legal scholars of the 20th century.

I had Professor Epstein, one of the preeminent classical liberal thinkers in modern American history on the podcast to discuss a variety of topics including private property rights and eminent domain, why classical liberalism is the most sound of philosophies and minimal regulation the most prudent of policies, whether America should abolish the administrative state, attacks on free speech, the wisdom or lack thereof in regulation of social media companies and much more.

What We Discussed

• The role that Professor Epstein's famous book, Takings played in Justice Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearing -- and then-Senator Joe Biden's hectoring
• Professor Epstein's groundbreaking theories on private property rights, eminent domain and the Takings and Commerce Clauses
• The practical argument against progressivism
• Whether we should deconstruct the administrative state, and if so how to do it
• The danger to free speech emanating from college campuses in a world of microaggressions, trigger warnings, de-platforming
• The folly of regulating Silicon Valley social media companies
• Classical liberalism versus socialism and libertarianism

Check out other episodes, show notes and transcripts at benweingarten.com/bigideas.

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Backed Vibes (clean) Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/