Freespace

Talking about the "Furies" at ASU

I spoke the other day at Arizona State University about my book Freedom's Furies and the lives and ideas of Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand--particularly the question of how their being women affected their ideas. You can watch it here:

Foundations of Freedom: The Rule of Law

In the latest video in the Goldwater Institute's series on the Foundations of Freedom, I discuss the principle of "the Rule of Law." What makes laws different from commands? What about vague laws? And is "originalism" really objective law?

Talking about the "Furies" of modern libertarianism at ASU tonight!

I'll be speaking at Arizona State University about my book Freedom's Furies at 5pm today--all are welcome, and we'll even be giving away some free books! Please join us.

My Louis Sullivan pilgrimmage

I've long been a fan of the great architect Louis Sullivan, the "father of the skyscraper," who is probably best remembered today as the mentor of Frank Lloyd Wright (and is known to Fountainhead fans as the model for the character of Henry Cameron). Sullivan didn't invent the skyscraper or the steel-frame building (the first of those was built by his friend, William LeBaron Jenney), but he invented the aesthetics of the tall building, insisting in his famous article "The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered" that tall buildings should look tall, and not try to look like French castles or Roman temples. And he was, indeed, one of the greatest artists of American building. He's also one of the great tragic figures of American art; in the early 20th century, the architecture profession turned against his style and toward neo-classicism, and he ended up dying bankrupt and nearly forgotten by all but a few of his admirers (among whom was, of course, Wright). 

This summer, I got a chance to see one of Sullivan's greatest achievements, the National Farmers Bank in Owatonna, Minnesota (1908), which is now a Wells Fargo and is probably the most beautiful room in America (click on pictures to enlarge):

 

More below the fold...

Foundations of Freedom: The Pursuit of Happiness

In the third episode of the Goldwater Institute's series on the Foundations of Freedom, I talk about what "the pursuit of happiness" really means. Check it out:

Foundations of Freedom: The Freedom of Speech

In the second installment of the Goldwater Institute's video series on the Foundations of Freedom, I take a look at free speech. Why do we have this right? What's it really for?