Choosing Better

1 h 9 min Reports of loneliness are soaring in some the most wealthy and peaceful societies in world history. According to a CDC study from 2021, 57 percent of teenage girls “felt persistently sad or hopeless”, an alarming rise from the already high 36 percent of teenage girls who reported hopelessness in 2011. Enoch and Tim discuss the scale of the problem and consider what could possibly be causing so many individuals to feel isolated and alone. But choosing hope is always

1 h 9 min What should be the top priorities when designing a country’s education system? There has been a slow movement in school curriculum away from the moral formation of the person and toward job preparedness. Enoch and Tim discuss the challenges of moral instruction under pluralism and ask each other what we most prioritize in the education of our children. Grab your copy of Plato’s Republic and sharpen those No. 2 pencils for the AP Biology exam as we talk about the pur

1 h 1 min Many societies are advancing assisted suicide as a viable option in the arsenal of the healthcare provider. But this breaks from longstanding duties of the physician to not administer poisons as evidenced in the Hippocratic Oath from antiquity. Enoch and Tim discuss the limits of individual autonomy and the morality of assisted suicide in a liberal democratic society. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economi

41 min 1 sec Who determines what land can be owned and the rules of ownership? From the freedom to roam in Scotland to communal decisions in Oaxaca to racial restrictions in American Samoa, the rules of private property are as diverse as the nations. Enoch and Tim discuss these differences and talk about some of the benefits and challenges of private property rights. But first, some trivia! Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Polit

1 h 4 min Who would want to grant a legal monopoly to an individual or even a corporation? While we want to encourage research and development, creativity, and taking risks, we also love the competition of the marketplace and the resulting lower prices for our favorite inventions and creations. In this episode, Enoch and Tim discuss intellectual property rights and consider the optimal duration to grant monopolies through patents and copyrights all while having a lot of fun.

52 min 46 sec The academic seas are stormy, and the typical landmarks are in flux. Sometimes the best path forward is to look to the past. Join us as we reflect on the purpose of education and the role of the liberal arts. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Post-Production - Michael Morris Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

1 h 3 min The penalties for breaking the law vary dramatically across time and space. In this episode we reflect on why certain patterns might emerge in how crimes are treated with respect to GDP per capita. We also consider the tradeoffs in play for those receiving punishment as well as the broader society. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Post-Production - Michael Morris Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

45 min 20 sec AI can emulate many things that humans do. AI can emulate many things humans can't do. AI can emulate many things humans shouldn't do. AI can emulate many things AI shouldn't do. Perhaps emulating human emotions falls into this fourth category. This certainly appears to be the consensus for condolence letters. But are there times where this artificial sincerity is appropriate? Could it ever offer an improvement? And regardless the moral implications, what are th

46 min 7 sec We generally think of scarcity in a negative light, but what would life look like if things weren't scarce? Could their be hidden mercies embedded in this concept. We invite you to share some of your scarce time and attention to reflect with us. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Post-Production - Michael Morris Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

1 h 3 min What are the moral implications of prices? Is there such a thing as a "Just Price?" Under what conditions are prices unjust? Let's talk about arbitrarily giving money to random friends (or strangers), price gouging, and the effects of the prices on your soul. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Post-Production - Michael Morris Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

57 min 36 sec If knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss, where does that leave us? Sometimes it might be better to just not know. But... if you want to know, Enoch Hill and Tim Taylor discuss in this week's Choosing Better Podcast. Credits: Intro/Outro music - Drew Elliot Post-Production - Michael Morris Thanks to the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics

58 min 46 sec In a (somewhat) recent article, Ben Peterson suggests that Order is necessary for a flourishing society. Order is generally achieved through informal norms or through formal law and enforcement. In the US, norms previously provided order, this transitioned to law and enforcement, but now we are shifting away from formal enforcement without the informal norms. In this episode of Choosing Better, we explore the roles of shame and honor in society, discuss how thes