David Friedman’s Substack

David Friedman's Substack explores a wide range of subjects from economic principles and climate change to intellectual debates and law enforcement, emphasizing critical thinking, skepticism towards mainstream narratives, and the interplay of natural and social sciences in understanding human behavior and societal issues.

Critical Thinking and Truth Seeking Political and Economic Theories Science and Climate Change Legal and Ethical Considerations Societal and Cultural Analysis Philosophy and Morality Education and Learning Methods Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of David Friedman’s Substack

And their main takeaways

Lying for a Good Cause

0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 13
  1. The author discusses the concept of lying for a good cause and justifies it in certain situations.
  2. The author presents a hypothetical scenario involving President Bush and the justification of a potential lie about WMDs.
  3. The main focus is on questioning whether the end justifies the means in terms of moral reasoning.

Legal Insurance as a Commitment Strategy: A Solution to the Patent Troll Problem

0 implied HN points • 04 Dec 13
  1. One solution to the patent troll problem is using litigation insurance to cover the cost of defending against patent suits.
  2. Litigation insurance can deter patent trolls from suing, making it less profitable for them to bring a suit in the first place.
  3. Drawing inspiration from historical legal systems, implementing private solutions like litigation insurance can be effective in addressing modern legal challenges.

The Second Amendment in the 21st Century

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 13
  1. The Second Amendment was created to address concerns about professional armies seizing power.
  2. Technological advancements have changed the balance of power between civilian and military weaponry.
  3. Limiting private firearm ownership can increase government power and control.

More on Selective Enforcement as Legislation

0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 13
  1. The executive branch decides how to allocate resources to enforce laws.
  2. There are questions about when selective enforcement crosses the line into rewriting laws.
  3. Limits need to be considered on the executive branch's power to selectively enforce laws.

Consequences of the Failure of Obamacare

0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 13
  1. Some viewed Obamacare as a compromise and think its failure means it didn't go far enough.
  2. The failure of Obamacare may not lead to a single-payer system as some on the left hoped.
  3. After Obamacare, a shift towards less government involvement in medical insurance may be desired.
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Iran's Nuclear Program and the Political Time Horizon

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 13
  1. Long-term planning in the private market relies on secure property rights.
  2. Politicians face challenges in implementing policies with delayed benefits.
  3. Decisions regarding Iran's nuclear program may be influenced by political implications.

Social Security and the Debt Limit

0 implied HN points • 15 Oct 13
  1. The debt limit does not impact the government's ability to make Social Security payments.
  2. When the Treasury redeems Social Security Trust Fund bonds, it lowers the national debt and allows for additional borrowing.
  3. The Trust Fund's size of over 2.7 trillion dollars means the procedure can continue for a significant amount of time.

Singapore, China, and the 21st Century

0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 13
  1. The 21st century will see old civilizations like China and India playing a major role in the modern world.
  2. Singapore blends interventionist economics with market mechanisms effectively.
  3. Singapore's modern society reflects its origins in one of the world's oldest civilizations, offering insights into China's future.

The Debt Limit and Default

0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 13
  1. Hitting the debt limit doesn't mean automatic default on interest payments.
  2. There is enough revenue to pay the interest on the debt, but cutting other expenditures would be necessary to balance the budget.
  3. Defaulting on interest payments alone is not sufficient to balance the budget; cutting other expenditures is crucial.

Atheism and Morality: A Response To Dennis Prager

0 implied HN points • 03 Oct 13
  1. The existence of a god does not automatically solve the issue of justifying right and wrong.
  2. Moral truths can exist independently of a god, supported by a sense of moral perception similar to physical senses.
  3. Moral perceptions can show consistency across various cultures when viewed at a fundamental level.

Ignorance, Rhetoric, or Am I Missing Something?

0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 13
  1. Kerry compared Assad to historical figures based on the use of poison gas in warfare.
  2. There were historical inaccuracies in Kerry's statements regarding the use of Sarin gas.
  3. The lack of scrutiny on Kerry's statements is concerning.

Authenticity in Historical Recreation

0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 13
  1. Authenticity is important in historical recreation to maintain the medieval ambiance for both participants and observers.
  2. Imposing historical constraints on ourselves, like using authentic lighting methods, can enhance the experience and push us to understand how people in the past lived.
  3. Choosing authentic solutions over modern ones disguised as historical can provide a deeper connection to the historical context.

My Retro Site

0 implied HN points • 15 Jul 13
  1. Web design features like Cascading Style Sheets may make a website more functional
  2. Maintaining an older website might be preferred for personal reasons
  3. Considering user preferences when updating a website is important

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

0 implied HN points • 08 Jun 13
  1. Government surveillance can lead to misuse of collected data for political purposes.
  2. Modern technology allows vast amounts of data to be stored and accessed inexpensively.
  3. There should be a requirement to erase collected data not used within a reasonable time period.

Seduction to Matrimony—from PUA to Red Pill

0 implied HN points • 05 May 13
  1. PUA theory: Women are attracted to alpha men, so act like one to attract women.
  2. Red Pill theory: Shift from casual sex to successful marriage by being a benevolent dictator as a husband.
  3. Evolution of mating philosophy from casual sex to traditional monogamous matrimony.

Faith vs Reason: Mutazilites, Ash'arites, et multae Caetera

0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 13
  1. Mutazilites believed in human reason's ability to distinguish good and evil, while Ash'arites believed all rules should be based solely on revelation.
  2. The Ash'arite position raised a question about how humans could distinguish between good and evil supernatural beings.
  3. Islamic legal scholars viewed probability as increasing to certainty as it grew stronger, a concept also seen among Objectivists.

My Talk Tomorrow

0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 13
  1. David Friedman is giving a talk on Economics and Law at the University of Baltimore law school.
  2. He will also be speaking at Duke University on Stateless and Semi-Stateless Societies in Fiction and Semi-Fiction.
  3. An audio recording of the talk will be available online.

How to Lie With Statistics: A Recent Example

0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 13
  1. True facts can be used to support a false claim by selectively presenting information.
  2. When analyzing taxes, it's important to consider who actually bears the tax burden, not just who pays taxes.
  3. Charts and statistics can sometimes be misleading without giving the full context or considering all factors.

Obama on Thatcher

0 implied HN points • 09 Apr 13
  1. Obama praised Margaret Thatcher as a champion of freedom and liberty.
  2. Left-leaning individuals in the UK who dislike Thatcher may still approve of Obama.
  3. Obama's praise of Thatcher's economic policies may be politically strategic, despite potential differences in their actual policies.

Diversity and Academic Open Mindedness

0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 13
  1. Support for diversity in academia may not always prioritize diversity of ideas.
  2. Being open-minded involves understanding and considering diverse perspectives, even if they are unpopular.
  3. To effectively reject an argument, one must first understand and be able to articulate that argument.

A Note on Economic Methodology

0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 13
  1. The ultimate test of a model in economics is its ability to make correct predictions, not just its descriptive accuracy.
  2. A good economic theory combines a priori theory with evidence to make plausible conjectures and test predictions.
  3. The Chicago School methodology emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between explaining known facts and predicting unknown facts.

How to Spend a Million Dollars to Promote Liberty

0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 13
  1. Promoting liberty can be challenging without a subsidy, as many activities might work without financial support.
  2. Making books available for free online can help spread ideas to a wider audience, potentially increasing impact.
  3. Investing in buying online rights to books promoting libertarian ideas can be a cost-effective way to reach more people and enhance the quality of arguments.

Why Does Anyone Fly Business Class?

0 implied HN points • 31 Jan 13
  1. Flying business class offers more comfortable seating, including the ability to sleep.
  2. The high cost of business class tickets raises the question of who is willing to pay such prices.
  3. Flying business class may also be about status and the perception of being a Very Important Person.

Heathrow Notes

0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 13
  1. Non-EU passengers at Heathrow have to show passports, causing significant waiting time and unnecessary cost.
  2. Heathrow offers different transport options to Paddington, with the fastest being expensive but mostly empty, showing poor decision-making by airport management.
  3. Decisions made by airport staff show a lack of consideration for the time and money of airport customers.

My Europe Trip

0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 13
  1. David Friedman gave a series of talks in Europe on various topics like Global Warming and Market Failure.
  2. The talks were held in different cities including London, Oxford, Milan, Madrid, Zurich, and Barcelona.
  3. Some of the talks were open lectures, but it's advisable to check with the sponsors for specific details.

The Net Value of Video Games

0 implied HN points • 31 Dec 12
  1. Video games may have benefits, but can also lead to spending excessive time and potentially negative outcomes.
  2. Video games may desensitize players to violence, but other forms of entertainment like thrillers can also have similar effects.
  3. Video games can have educational benefits, teaching geography, history, and encouraging skills like typing and spelling.

Observations of Film Making

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 12
  1. Costumes in movies are designed to reflect changes in a character's role and personality over time.
  2. Filming a movie is not done in chronological order but involves shooting individual scenes multiple times.
  3. Authors may critique dialogue in movies, but characters should speak in their own unique voices, not the author's.

Query for Readers of The Machinery of Freedom

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 12
  1. Author is considering creating a new edition of the book by adding a new section instead of rewriting the entire book.
  2. New material in the third edition relates to parts of the old material, so there is a question of how to integrate them.
  3. Options for integrating new and old material include combining chapters, having a separate part for new material, or interspersing the old and new material.

Economics as a Unifier of Law: A True Story

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 12
  1. The optimal reward for inventors or penalty for criminals is not just based on the value of their actions, but also on the costs involved in giving the reward or enforcing the penalty.
  2. Economics offers a unifying framework that can be applied to various legal fields, showing that similar principles and logic can be used across different areas of law.
  3. Applying economic analysis can help in determining the most efficient and effective approach in legal decision-making.

Why Only New Toys?

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 12
  1. Some people request only new toys for donations to children in need.
  2. The author questions why the requirement for new toys exists, considering many people have used toys to give away.
  3. The author ponders if the new toy requirement could be due to pride, legal restrictions, or pressure from toy companies.

Crucible of Gold: A Brief Appreciation

0 implied HN points • 18 Nov 12
  1. Naomi Novik's Temeraire novels are set during the Napoleonic wars but include dragons as a major element.
  2. The characters and world in Novik's novels evolve and change throughout the series.
  3. The series explores different societies and relationships between dragons and humans in various parts of the world.

Why is the Republican Party Hostile to Immigrants?

0 implied HN points • 14 Nov 12
  1. Republicans may be more against illegal immigration than legal immigration.
  2. Making legal immigration easier could help reduce pressure for illegal immigration.
  3. There are various reasons people might be against immigration, such as job competition and concerns about welfare and crime.

Global Warming as a Casus Belli: An SF Idea

0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 12
  1. A science fiction idea involving global warming leading to war between states
  2. The story focuses on moral ambiguity, good and bad motives on both sides
  3. It emphasizes the complexity of the global warming issue and the challenges of determining the right course of action

How Will Sandy Affect the Election?

0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 12
  1. Natural catastrophes like hurricanes may influence electoral outcomes.
  2. Hurricanes could make people prefer stability over change, possibly benefiting incumbents.
  3. There may be a tendency to blame current bad situations on the ruling government during crises.

Towards Better Test Taking Software

0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 12
  1. The focus of test taking software has shifted to preventing cheating rather than improving the user experience.
  2. Grading exams question by question instead of exam by exam can reduce biases and make grading more consistent.
  3. There is room for improvement in test taking software to make it easier for professors to grade and for students to take exams.

Good News, Bad News

0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 12
  1. Looks like Obama is going to win the election
  2. Looks like Romney is going to lose the election
  3. The problem with electing a Republican is that they often do similar things to what Democrats would have done

Macro and Micro Predators, Territorial Behavior and the Tragedy of the Commons

0 implied HN points • 09 Sep 12
  1. Macro predators face a tragedy of the commons, while micro predators have incentive to preserve their food supply.
  2. Territorial behavior in macro predators helps solve the tragedy of the commons.
  3. One reason macro predators do not choose humans as prey is because humans fight back.

Mitt Romney, The Ideal Experiment

0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 12
  1. Romney's candidacy tests Obama's strategy of class warfare in elections.
  2. Obama's strategy involves appealing to people's desire to tax the rich more.
  3. If Romney wins despite being wealthy, it may suggest that the strategy is not effective in present-day America.

Back to Smart Phone Wish Lists

0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 12
  1. The author desires a smartphone with a physical keyboard like the old Psion PDA's for comfortable typing.
  2. The author wishes for a smartphone that works worldwide to avoid connectivity issues while traveling.
  3. The author is interested in GPS software that allows downloading maps for offline use to navigate without internet connection.

Are There Sophisticated Fake Reviews and Reviewers?

0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 12
  1. Be cautious of fake online reviews that display suspicious patterns of overwhelmingly positive feedback combined with a few negative reviews.
  2. Some online firms specialize in improving a business's online reputation, but it is unclear if they always use honest methods.
  3. Consider the possibility of sophisticated fake reviewers who intentionally create believable personas to post positive reviews for payment.