Episode · EconTalk · 2022-04-11
Books mentioned on Russ Roberts on Education
What do crossing rivers and investing in stocks have in common? Real education is seeing the connection between things that seem very different.
Russ Roberts discussed Lost in Thought by Zena Hitz, Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill, The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Lost in Thought
Lost in Thought by Zena Hitz is a philosophical exploration of the value of intellectual life, inner freedom, and the transformative power of learning away from utilitarian pressures.
Discussed“i learned this from a guest from my podcast named xena hits she wrote a book called lost in thought”
Where to get it
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Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill is a foundational philosophical text that articulates the ethical framework emphasizing the greatest happiness principle and the moral significance of actions.
Discussed“so john stuart mill in his book utilitarianism said it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”
Where to get it
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The Iliad
The Iliad by Homer is an ancient Greek epic poem that details the events of the Trojan War and the wrath of Achilles.
Discussed“as you start to acquire a perspective on the great minds of the past as you read books like the iliad and the odyssey when you read the plays of shakespeare when you read great thinkers in philosophy like nietzsche or plato or aristotle when you first encounter them or you read a great book like the sound and the”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey
Homer's epic poem The Odyssey recounts the arduous ten-year journey of the Greek hero Odysseus as he strives to return home to Ithaca following the Trojan War, facing mythical monsters, divine wrath, and profound personal trials along the way.
Discussed“as you start to acquire a perspective on the great minds of the past as you read books like the iliad and the odyssey when you read the plays of shakespeare when you read great thinkers in philosophy like nietzsche or plato or aristotle when you first encounter them or you read a great book like the sound and the”
Where to get it
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The Sound and the Fury
The Sound and the Fury is a modernist novel by William Faulkner that employs stream-of-consciousness techniques to chronicle the decline of the Compson family.
Discussed“or you read a great book like the sound and the fury read read the sound of the truth the first time you don't get much out of it it's like i don't even know what's happening i don't know who's talking it's a waste of time”
Where to get it
