Libertarianism, UBI & Ethics w/ Matt Zwolinski | Big Questions

Join Big John on The Big Questions with Big John as he explores liberty, markets, and morality with Professor Matt Zwolinski from the University of San Diego. They discuss the evolution of libertarianism, from its 19th-century roots with thinkers like Bastiat and Spooner to modern debates on universal basic income (UBI). Zwolinski shares his journey from Ayn Rand’s Objectivism to bleeding heart libertarianism, tackling exploitation, property rights, and Hans-Hermann Hoppe’s controversial views on immigration and covenant communities. Learn why UBI might align with libertarian principles and how freedom differs from property. A thought-provoking conversation on philosophy and real-world impact!

Chapters:
00:03:07 Matt Zwolinski’s Background and Philosophical Journey
00:08:03 Libertarianism on College Campuses
00:13:30 Ayn Rand’s Objectivism and Its Appeal
00:20:06 Evolution of Libertarianism: The Individualists Book
00:33:59 Key Libertarian Figures: Spooner and Hayek
00:54:27 Exploitation in Libertarian Thought
01:05:16 Hans-Hermann Hoppe and Right-Libertarianism
01:21:01 Universal Basic Income and Libertarian Principles