
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In episode 162 of The Michael Shermer Show, Michael speaks with one of the nation's preeminent experts on economic policy, Benjamin Friedman, about his new book Religion and the Rise of Capitalism — a major reassessment of the foundations of modern economic thinking that explores the profound influence of an until-now unrecognized force — religion.
Critics of contemporary economics complain that belief in free markets — among economists as well as many ordinary citizens — is a form of religion. And, it turns out, that in a deeper, more historically grounded sense there is something to that idea. Contrary to the conventional historical view of economics as an entirely secular product of the Enlightenment, Benjamin Friedman demonstrates that religion exerted a powerful influence from the outset.
By Michael Shermer4.4
884884 ratings
In episode 162 of The Michael Shermer Show, Michael speaks with one of the nation's preeminent experts on economic policy, Benjamin Friedman, about his new book Religion and the Rise of Capitalism — a major reassessment of the foundations of modern economic thinking that explores the profound influence of an until-now unrecognized force — religion.
Critics of contemporary economics complain that belief in free markets — among economists as well as many ordinary citizens — is a form of religion. And, it turns out, that in a deeper, more historically grounded sense there is something to that idea. Contrary to the conventional historical view of economics as an entirely secular product of the Enlightenment, Benjamin Friedman demonstrates that religion exerted a powerful influence from the outset.

26,336 Listeners

2,272 Listeners

843 Listeners

246 Listeners

1,061 Listeners

908 Listeners

4,181 Listeners

799 Listeners

1,640 Listeners

504 Listeners

572 Listeners

29 Listeners

392 Listeners

825 Listeners

8,697 Listeners