Click here for the video link on YouTube

It’s a meta-discussion about communication itself – and how it intersects with libertarianism.

I think you’ll enjoy this broad give-and-take with author and teacher Pavel Slutskiy, who I’m flattered to say, happens to be one of our long time subscribers on The White Pillbox.

We discuss the importance of communication in libertarian thinking; purpose and intention; and cultural norms versus legal systems. Pavel shows us the nuances of speech acts that can be considered aggressive, such as threats or ordering others to commit aggression.

Pavel’s books:

“Communication and Libertarianism” (2021), the book which was referred by David Gordon as “…an outstanding contribution to both libertarian political philosophy and communication theory… and the most comprehensive work on communication issues in libertarian theory ever published”

His follow-up book develops an epistemological alternative to empiricism for studying communication: “Philosophical Foundations of Communication Studies: a Praxeological Approach” (2024)

Pavel is Associate Professor in Communication Management at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. He is Associate Professor in Public Relations at Saint-Petersburg State University — the first higher education institution in the country to offer a programme in PR. Dr. Slutskiy earned his PhD in Journalism (Political Science) from Saint-Petersburg State University. Since 2014, he has lived and worked in Thailand. His research interests include political and legal philosophy of communication, communication theory, philosophy of language, cross-cultural communication, strategic communication and public relations.

...

My full, free 23-part Myth of Authority Masterclass

Since some may be new to libertarian perspectives, here is a short list of links you may find helpful. I’ve classified them based on the different ways people ponder issues:

Want to know how important things would get done without government?

* Reading material: “The Machinery of Freedom” by David Friedman; for private law specifically (rather than government law) try “Legal Foundations of a Free Society” by Stephan Kinsella

* Video: “The Case for Privatization, of Everything”, “Law without Government: Principles”, “Law without Government: Conflict Resolution”, “Law without Government: The Bargaining Mechanism”

Want a comprehensive overview?

* Reading material: “The Voluntaryist Handbook” by Keith Knight

* Video: “Anarchy 101”, “The Philosophy of Liberty”

Want to get down to the root of it, without sugar coating?

* Reading material: “Anatomy of the State” by Murray Rothbard, “The Most Dangerous Superstition” by Larken Rose

* Video: “The Fundamentals”, “The Whole Problem”, “The State is Too Dangerous to Tolerate”, “The Tiny Dot”

Want to focus on economics?

* Reading material: “I, Pencil” by Leonard E. Read, “Economics in One Lesson” by Henry Hazlitt

* Video: “The Attractiveness of Austrian Economics”

Want to focus on the absurdity of politics?

* Reading material: “The Problem of Political Authority” by Michael Huemer

* Video: “Election Day”, “I’m Allowed to Rob You”, “If You Were King”, “The Jones Plantation”

Thanks for checking out The White Pillbox by Mark Maresca! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markmaresca.substack.com