In Vol. 1, No. 2 of the Mises Seminar podcast Sukrit Sabhlok interviews Dr. Ben O'Neill. Check out Ben's articles archive at mises.org.

In the hands of the detractors of liberty and capitalism, ‘decadence’ is little more than a smear term, used to deride the human ideal of effortless consumption and enjoyment. Chief among these attackers is the arch nemesis of civilisation, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose Discourse on the Arts and Sciences exalts ignorance, primitivism and privation while scorning civilisation and luxury as antithetical to morality and goodness.¹

Following Rousseau, many contemporary postmodernist philosophers also applaud primitivism and privation as a noble and dignified lifestyle, one that builds moral character.² Indeed, many are prone to express their admiration for primitive cultures and their alleged longing for simpler times, even as they bask in the luxuries unleashed by the economic liberty of capitalism, and abstain from any opportunity to live as their professed philosophy dictates.³ In short, privation, ignorance and toil are seen as requirements for moral virtue and good character in others, never in oneself. Read more

On February 7, 2009, and in the week that followed, bushfires ignited across Victoria, in Australia.[1] The fires raged through many towns, destroying at least 1,834 homes,[2] and killing at least 209 people,[3] more fatalities than any bushfire in Australian history.[4]

Let's compare: in the 1983 "Ash Wednesday" bushfires, seventy-five people died; in the 1939 "Black Friday" bushfires, seventy-one died; in all previous bushfires in Australia, back to data on bushfires in the 17th century, there were a total of 642 fatalities.[5] In short, Australia has just experienced what is far and away the most devastating bushfire in its history. Read more