Is freedom simply the absence of constraint, or does it depend on cultural norms, institutions, and shared moral language? What happens when economic liberalism becomes detached from virtue, character, and civic responsibility? And how should education approach the moral foundations of a free society?

Daniel Klein is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and a leading scholar in classical liberal thought. He is the chief editor of Econ Journal Watch and has written extensively on Adam Smith, liberalism, and the moral language embedded in economic life. His work bridges economics, philosophy, and political theory, challenging narrow technocratic understandings of markets and liberty.

In this episode, we explore Daniel’s interpretation of classical liberalism and the importance of moral discourse in sustaining a free society. He argues that markets do not function in a vacuum; they depend on trust, virtue, and shared norms. We discuss Adam Smith not just as an economist but as a moral philosopher concerned with sympathy, character, and the cultivation of ethical judgment.
Our conversation also turns to the role of education in transmitting liberal principles. If liberty requires citizens capable of moral reasoning and civic dialogue, then schools and universities cannot treat economics as purely technical. They must engage students in deeper questions about responsibility, institutional design, and the meaning of freedom itself. This episode offers a thoughtful reconsideration of liberalism and invites us to reflect on how economic ideas shape both public life and educational practice.