George Smith discusses Kant’s attempt to justify objective moral principles and his views on when the use of coercion is morally proper. Originally published in essay form on April 15, 2016

George Smith explains some fundamental features of Immanuel Kant’s moral and political theory. Originally published in essay form on April 8, 2016

George Smith discusses some good and bad influences that Ayn Rand’s ideas had on his own intellectual development. Originally published in essay form on April 1, 2016

George Smith examines some of Rand’s claims about the beneficial influence of Aristotle’s ideas on the course of Western civilization. Originally published in essay form on March 4, 2016

George Smith discusses the issue of whether we should hold a philosopher responsible for the beliefs of those followers who agree with him. Originally published in essay form on February 26, 2016.

George Smith explains the views of Kant and Hegel on the history of philosophy, and explores whether moral judgments should be applied to the realm of ideas. Originally published in essay form on February 19, 2016

Was Kant somehow responsible for the rise of Nazism? Smith explores two points of view on this issue. Originally published in essay form on February 5, 2016

George H. Smith discusses the mythological thinking that dominated Nazi ideology, as explained in Cassirer’s book The Myth of the State. Originally published in essay form on January 29, 2016.

George Smith discusses whether we should hold a philosopher responsible for how other philosophers use his or her ideas. Originally published in essay form on February 12, 2016

George H. Smith explores Rand’s contention that America was sliding down a slippery slope to fascism. Originally published in essay form on January 8, 2016.

Smith examines and criticizes Richard Ashcraft’s arguments that Locke was significantly influenced by the Levellers. Originally published in essay form on December 18, 2015.

George H. Smith explains an important controversy about when the Two Treatises was written, and the possible influence of the Levellers on Locke. Originally published in essay form on December 4, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the significance, for Locke, of the increased productivity caused by labor, and the relationship between money and property. Originally published in essay form on November 20, 2015.

George H. Smith explains how Locke dealt with some problems in the traditional Christian theory of private property. Originally published in essay form on November 6, 2015.

George H. Smith discusses Robert Nozick’s criticisms of Locke’s property theory and the relationship between a natural-law justification of property and social conventions. Originally published in essay form on October 30, 2015.

George H. Smith explains Locke’s ideas about how we should interpret a philosophic text, and the relationship between labor and private property. Originally published in essay form on October 23, 2015.

In his first essay in a new series on John Locke, Smith explains some essential features of Locke’s case for private property. Originally published in essay form on October 19, 2015

George Smith discusses Locke’s view of the original commons, before the institution of private property. Originally published in essay form on October 9, 2015.

George Smith continues his discussion of how the theory of private property changed over the centuries. Originally published in essay form on October 2, 2015.

Smith contrasts the modern secular approach to private property with the traditional Christian theory. Originally published in essay form on September 25, 2015.

Does the modern libertarian movement have any significant similarities to the early Christian movement? George H. Smith explores this intriguing possibility. Originally published in essay form on September 18, 2015.

George H. Smith discusses the traditional Christian theory of private property and how it was viewed as the result of original sin. Originally published in essay form on September 11, 2015.

Was Jean Meslier a communist? George H. Smith explores this tricky issue. Originally published in essay form on September 4, 2015.

George H. Smith critically examines the claim that Jean Meslier was a communist anarchist. Originally published in essay form on August 21, 2015.

George H. Smith explains Jean Meslier’s three major objections to Christian morality, as taught by Jesus. Originally published in essay form on August 14, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the role of the Catholic Church in the French government, and how Jean Meslier reconciled his atheism with his role as a priest. Originally published in essay form on August 7, 2015.

George H. Smith explains some of the libertarian ideas of Jean Meslier, the notorious atheist-priest. Originally published in essay form on July 31, 2015.

George H. Smith criticizes some features of Benedict Spinoza’s political theory, especially his theory of rights. Originally published in essay form on July 24, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the fundamentals of Benedict Spinoza’s theory of rights and government. Originally published in essay form on July 17, 2015.

George H. Smith continues his discussion of Benedict Spinoza by explaining how he defended freedom of religion and speech. Originally published in essay form on July 10, 2015.

George H. Smith explains why Benedict Spinoza’s Theologico-Political Treatise became one of the most scandalous books ever published. Originally published in essay form on May 29, 2015.

George H. Smith discusses Benedict Spinoza’s controversial ideas about God, religion, and his criticism of the Design Argument. Originally published in essay form on May 22, 2015.

George H. Smith explains Francis Bacon’s defense of certainty and his contributions to a secular worldview. Originally published in essay form on May 15, 2015.

Pyrrhonic skepticism had a tremendous influence on religious debates in post-Reformation Europe. Originally published in essay form on May 1, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the political implications of the deistic repudiation of special revelation and miracles. Originally published in essay form on April 24, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the controversial arguments of the deist John Toland, as defended in Christianity not Mysterious. Originally published in essay form on April 17, 2015.

George H. Smith explains why Edward Gibbon rejected miraculous accounts in his masterpiece, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Originally published in essay form on April 10, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the basic tenets of deism and why it posed a political threat. Originally published in essay form on March 27, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the origins of deism and its basic ideas. Originally published in essay form on March 20, 2015.

George H. Smith explains some tactics that early freethinkers used in the attempt to avoid punishment for blasphemy and other religious crimes. Originally published in essay form on March 13, 2015.

George H. Smith explores Shaftesbury’s defense of ridicule and satire in matters of religion. Originally published in essay form on March 6, 2015.

George H. Smith explains how some leading Christian theologians justified the death penalty for heretics and blasphemers. Originally published in essay form on February 27, 2015.

George H. Smith explains the similarities between medieval heresy and our modern notion of treason against the state. Originally published in essay form on February 20, 2015.

Augustine argued that religious persecution was justified when done in the interest of the salvation of those persecuted. Originally published in essay form on February 13, 2015.

George H. Smith begins his series on the historical relationship between religious skepticism and libertarianism. Originally published in essay form on January 30, 2015. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.

George H. Smith discusses what Bernard Mandeville meant in saying that private vices produce public benefits, and how Francis Hutcheson criticized that theory. Originally published in essay form on January 23, 2015. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.

George H. Smith discusses Bernard Mandeville’s defense of legal prostitution and other vices. Originally published in essay form on January 16, 2015. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.

George H. Smith explains why Mandeville’s ideas about vice made him one of the most notorious writers of his time. Originally published in essay form on January 9, 2015.

Originally published in essay form on December 19, 2014. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.

Originally published in essay form on December 12, 2014. Narrated by Daniel Hyland.