Every time I read something new about you (or some new “Caplan” factoid) it makes me like you more. In many ways you have become an inspirational intellectual role model—I try to think: what would Bryan do in this or that situation (usually an argument about some idea or concept).
I find that I am willing to apologize more often than not just to avoid upsetting someone I disagree with but who I still value.
This is incredible to me. I definitely know that people like this exist but to have this be relatable to many others blows my mind. I feel like this mostly reads to me as I am a huge dick but it's ok because vast majority of other people suck.
Maybe MDMA or psychedelics are 'worth doing once'. But even then they usually don't teach anything lasting. No other drug will provide anything besides momentary pleasure.
They can teach a lot about how the brain malfunctions (I can get my brain to do things mystics do without drugs) and provide different perspectives on things you already know. (Evaluate those afterward when sober - many will be BS). Don't knock it unless you've tried it. Even if you've tried it - different people get different effects. No commonly used drug produces long-term effects. They wear off in hours.
Not an expert, but I believe MDMA specifically kills some kind of neuron of which you do not hav a surplus.
But as I said, I'm not an expert, and I'm not trying to litigate here, only drop a note for anyone who is considering trying MDMA "just once", to look into the costs and benefits first.
I used to really respect you until I read now how conceited you are. It's weird, it doesn't make your opinions any less correct objectively. Yet it makes me lose nearly all the respect I had for you. I guess because it makes me question whether you seek truth or confirmation bias, given that you're so enamored by your beliefs. And it makes me not want to root for you because any success will feed into your misguided self assessment. I wish I never read this, I will miss holding you in esteem.
How can you "start" a trend if you're merely copying someone else?
Oh, yes, megalomania, and just enough intelligence to recognize it, but not enough intelligence to counteract it, so you're unthinkingly claiming preemptive credit for the potential consequences of someone else's actions.
I was about to ask - wouldn't it be Hanania who started the trend? Or does there have to be three of something to be a trend, in which case the next person will be starting it?
It's too bad there wasn't a military draft during your earlier years. Had there been and you were drafted into the U.S.Army, you could have been culled from the ranks and given a cushy job and been more arrogant after your ETS or, if not so fortunate, you would eventually have been humbled by the daily grind of enlisted life. It might have been worse had you joined the Navy to avoid the draft.
A little humility never hurt anyone and life has a way of providing that regardless of age or economic circumstance.
Love this post, and particularly your complete openness about arrogance. Question: who is more arrogant (or confident or self-assured, your choice): You or Michael Huemer?
Since I got into metal via streaming in the 2020s rather than albums in the 1980s, I know songs and artists much better than albums. Dio, with his otherworldly voice, is probably my favorite, with "Holy Diver," "Don't Talk to Strangers" and (from his Rainbow days) "Stargazer" at the top of my list. But I also love the top Metallica songs, Ozzy's "Crazy Train," and Megadeath's "Symphony of Destruction." By the way, definitely watch Ozzy and Metallica's late Soviet-era concerts on YouTube, they are divine.
On your #9, I have a similar number of CDs, and listen to twice as much music as you after being retired. I haven't listened to physical media in years however, I rip CDs immediately to computer files. I love the convenience, and seem to shun physical stuff the older I get.
In my case, my earliest memory was from age 4 when my mom let me have a sip of her coffee while she was watching her favorite soap opera. She brewed Maxwell House grounds out of a can in a percolator, which led to a pretty bitter result--while the memory is vivid, ultimately it also turned me into a tea drinker.
I had one really really supersmart friend in High School; he was the very first libertarian I had ever met, which triggered my subsequent interest in libertarianism. He wound up going to Princeton, while I went to Berkeley, where I encountered other libertarians and libertarian works and got involved in Libertarian Party activism a number of years before I encountered Ayn Rand's works and actual Objectivists at Berkeley--and encountered Bryan, who also hung out with Berkeley Objectivists in spite of him already being in his post-Objectivist phase.
Pre-exposure to non-Objectivist libertarians helped me skip the Objectivist phase; looking at the details of Randian thought from a critical perspective while at Berkeley sparked my interest in Epicurean philosophy. Bryan and I were both interested outside observers, not full-blown cult members (who were a sight to behold, especially the second-tier leaders who occasionally came out from New York to shepherd their Berkeley flock).
Around this time Bryan and I also exchanged emails arguing about the foundations of economics; I don't know if that had any role in his subsequent career choice, but Bryan never lost interest repeating the very same errors years later, so maybe our dialogue did have some influence. Bryan then disappeared to Princeton too, where he was trained in all sorts of flawed conventional academic notions about economics with a thesis adviser who later became a notoriously inflationary central banker ( http://subdude-site.com/WebPics/WebPicsBushLib/BernankeBen/caricature_bernanke_helicopter_400x532.jpg ).
I received a much better economics education by buying and reading books from the Mises Institute ( https://mises.org/ ), though of course you it is almost impossible to get cushy tenured positions at an American university by citing the works of Austrian school economists. Instead, my Biophysics degrees got me a career at the University of California Office of the President. While mere bureaucrats are not officially tenured like professors, the job security and benefits for staff serving senior executives at research universities are still pretty cushy, especially relative to equivalent jobs in the productive sector. While I never got to teach economics, I do credit the Austrian school for turning me into a better investor, so it all worked out pretty well for me.
Everybody loves an underdog! You began life as an insufferable pompous know-it-all, as many of us do. Instead of leaning into your lack of humility, you had the self-awareness to become an absolute joy and create a whole new way of seeing the world (especially through Econ).
Since you already like classical and opera, you're likely already into the complexities of that kind of music. So since you're exploring other genres, I'd suggest some progressive rock and progressive metal. My first recommendation would be "Metropolis Part II: Scenes From A Memory" by Dream Theater. Probably my favorite from those guys. That's all I'll say about it for now. If you get to it, I hope you enjoy it.
Cool list. Brave in parts. You are clearly living a good life. Kudos!
Because of my wife, I now unironically enjoy (some) show tunes. That one is well-written and catchy, but also strikes me as bizarre. Perhaps because I'm missing context. Being brave and being yourself (to me) means going out amongst folks, unapologetic and unafraid, head held high, and being your best self. That wasn't what was on display there. They were all snarling, shouting, and commandeering the center of a public street/square thingy. They came straight out of the gate screaming and gesticulating angrily at people, demanding that they are "worthy of your love" or something. Perhaps I'm just too stoic, but that seems like awful behavior. Maybe my version would have been too boring a song/performance. Admittedly, that one was visually arresting.
Anyway, thanks for sharing all that.
Oh, and the next time Bob Murphy interviews you, maybe don't cut him off in the middle of every question and pause to think about what he's trying to ask you. He's a thoughtful and earnest guy and he deserved better than being interrupted mid-sentence so you can deliver your canned answers.
You're smart as a whip, but when anyone does this, they look like... well... the opposite thing.
"I am built to feel like a genius even if the facts don’t support that judgment."
Lol, this is one of the most relatable things I've ever read!
Bryan,
Every time I read something new about you (or some new “Caplan” factoid) it makes me like you more. In many ways you have become an inspirational intellectual role model—I try to think: what would Bryan do in this or that situation (usually an argument about some idea or concept).
I find that I am willing to apologize more often than not just to avoid upsetting someone I disagree with but who I still value.
This is incredible to me. I definitely know that people like this exist but to have this be relatable to many others blows my mind. I feel like this mostly reads to me as I am a huge dick but it's ok because vast majority of other people suck.
You should try the drugs. All of them. At least once. You'll learn something. I don't think you're the type to get addicted.
Maybe MDMA or psychedelics are 'worth doing once'. But even then they usually don't teach anything lasting. No other drug will provide anything besides momentary pleasure.
They can teach a lot about how the brain malfunctions (I can get my brain to do things mystics do without drugs) and provide different perspectives on things you already know. (Evaluate those afterward when sober - many will be BS). Don't knock it unless you've tried it. Even if you've tried it - different people get different effects. No commonly used drug produces long-term effects. They wear off in hours.
My understanding is that MDMA is very neurotoxic and that trying MDMA in particular, even once, does permanent neurological damage.
It might still be worth it though, I'm told that it's unambiguously the best drug, even taking that neurotoxicity into account.
This isn't anywhere near true. I recommend reading David Nutt's Drugs Without the Hot Air or Carl Hart's Drug Use for Grown Ups.
Neurotoxicity is overrated, many things are including common antibiotics. We got a lot of braincells and redundancy.
"Best" is subjective. I can't stand MDMA myself or really any psychedelics including THC.
Not an expert, but I believe MDMA specifically kills some kind of neuron of which you do not hav a surplus.
But as I said, I'm not an expert, and I'm not trying to litigate here, only drop a note for anyone who is considering trying MDMA "just once", to look into the costs and benefits first.
I used to really respect you until I read now how conceited you are. It's weird, it doesn't make your opinions any less correct objectively. Yet it makes me lose nearly all the respect I had for you. I guess because it makes me question whether you seek truth or confirmation bias, given that you're so enamored by your beliefs. And it makes me not want to root for you because any success will feed into your misguided self assessment. I wish I never read this, I will miss holding you in esteem.
Ex this list it is pretty apparent your self love is boundless.
How can you "start" a trend if you're merely copying someone else?
Oh, yes, megalomania, and just enough intelligence to recognize it, but not enough intelligence to counteract it, so you're unthinkingly claiming preemptive credit for the potential consequences of someone else's actions.
That's very on brand.
I was about to ask - wouldn't it be Hanania who started the trend? Or does there have to be three of something to be a trend, in which case the next person will be starting it?
It's too bad there wasn't a military draft during your earlier years. Had there been and you were drafted into the U.S.Army, you could have been culled from the ranks and given a cushy job and been more arrogant after your ETS or, if not so fortunate, you would eventually have been humbled by the daily grind of enlisted life. It might have been worse had you joined the Navy to avoid the draft.
A little humility never hurt anyone and life has a way of providing that regardless of age or economic circumstance.
What was it about meeting Sheldon Richman that changed your mind on having kids?
Seeing a fun guy enjoying being a fun dad!
Love this post, and particularly your complete openness about arrogance. Question: who is more arrogant (or confident or self-assured, your choice): You or Michael Huemer?
What are a few of your favorite metal albums?
Since I got into metal via streaming in the 2020s rather than albums in the 1980s, I know songs and artists much better than albums. Dio, with his otherworldly voice, is probably my favorite, with "Holy Diver," "Don't Talk to Strangers" and (from his Rainbow days) "Stargazer" at the top of my list. But I also love the top Metallica songs, Ozzy's "Crazy Train," and Megadeath's "Symphony of Destruction." By the way, definitely watch Ozzy and Metallica's late Soviet-era concerts on YouTube, they are divine.
I can fully vouch for 16 having had so many entertaining and engaging lunches with you
On your #9, I have a similar number of CDs, and listen to twice as much music as you after being retired. I haven't listened to physical media in years however, I rip CDs immediately to computer files. I love the convenience, and seem to shun physical stuff the older I get.
Great stuff Bryan.
In my case, my earliest memory was from age 4 when my mom let me have a sip of her coffee while she was watching her favorite soap opera. She brewed Maxwell House grounds out of a can in a percolator, which led to a pretty bitter result--while the memory is vivid, ultimately it also turned me into a tea drinker.
I had one really really supersmart friend in High School; he was the very first libertarian I had ever met, which triggered my subsequent interest in libertarianism. He wound up going to Princeton, while I went to Berkeley, where I encountered other libertarians and libertarian works and got involved in Libertarian Party activism a number of years before I encountered Ayn Rand's works and actual Objectivists at Berkeley--and encountered Bryan, who also hung out with Berkeley Objectivists in spite of him already being in his post-Objectivist phase.
Pre-exposure to non-Objectivist libertarians helped me skip the Objectivist phase; looking at the details of Randian thought from a critical perspective while at Berkeley sparked my interest in Epicurean philosophy. Bryan and I were both interested outside observers, not full-blown cult members (who were a sight to behold, especially the second-tier leaders who occasionally came out from New York to shepherd their Berkeley flock).
Around this time Bryan and I also exchanged emails arguing about the foundations of economics; I don't know if that had any role in his subsequent career choice, but Bryan never lost interest repeating the very same errors years later, so maybe our dialogue did have some influence. Bryan then disappeared to Princeton too, where he was trained in all sorts of flawed conventional academic notions about economics with a thesis adviser who later became a notoriously inflationary central banker ( http://subdude-site.com/WebPics/WebPicsBushLib/BernankeBen/caricature_bernanke_helicopter_400x532.jpg ).
I received a much better economics education by buying and reading books from the Mises Institute ( https://mises.org/ ), though of course you it is almost impossible to get cushy tenured positions at an American university by citing the works of Austrian school economists. Instead, my Biophysics degrees got me a career at the University of California Office of the President. While mere bureaucrats are not officially tenured like professors, the job security and benefits for staff serving senior executives at research universities are still pretty cushy, especially relative to equivalent jobs in the productive sector. While I never got to teach economics, I do credit the Austrian school for turning me into a better investor, so it all worked out pretty well for me.
Everybody loves an underdog! You began life as an insufferable pompous know-it-all, as many of us do. Instead of leaning into your lack of humility, you had the self-awareness to become an absolute joy and create a whole new way of seeing the world (especially through Econ).
Since you already like classical and opera, you're likely already into the complexities of that kind of music. So since you're exploring other genres, I'd suggest some progressive rock and progressive metal. My first recommendation would be "Metropolis Part II: Scenes From A Memory" by Dream Theater. Probably my favorite from those guys. That's all I'll say about it for now. If you get to it, I hope you enjoy it.
Cool list. Brave in parts. You are clearly living a good life. Kudos!
Because of my wife, I now unironically enjoy (some) show tunes. That one is well-written and catchy, but also strikes me as bizarre. Perhaps because I'm missing context. Being brave and being yourself (to me) means going out amongst folks, unapologetic and unafraid, head held high, and being your best self. That wasn't what was on display there. They were all snarling, shouting, and commandeering the center of a public street/square thingy. They came straight out of the gate screaming and gesticulating angrily at people, demanding that they are "worthy of your love" or something. Perhaps I'm just too stoic, but that seems like awful behavior. Maybe my version would have been too boring a song/performance. Admittedly, that one was visually arresting.
Anyway, thanks for sharing all that.
Oh, and the next time Bob Murphy interviews you, maybe don't cut him off in the middle of every question and pause to think about what he's trying to ask you. He's a thoughtful and earnest guy and he deserved better than being interrupted mid-sentence so you can deliver your canned answers.
You're smart as a whip, but when anyone does this, they look like... well... the opposite thing.