Applying Libertarian Convictions in Practical Contexts: Embracing Open-Mindedness

**Title: Prof. Randy Barnett – Life Experiences and Libertarian Convictions**

*Welcome to the Freedom of Thought podcast series, where we interview individuals who bring courage and independent thought to today’s challenges. In this episode, Prof. Randy Barnett joins Prof. Joshua Kleinfeld to discuss how his life experiences have shaped his libertarian convictions. Professor Barnett is a highly regarded libertarian legal academic, having made significant contributions to the legal discourse with over 24,000 citations[^1^]. Throughout his career, he has interacted with influential figures in Libertarian political philosophy and has become one of the leading voices in the field. In this conversation, Prof. Barnett explores how libertarian premises can be refined to address current institutional culture war challenges.*

*The Federalist Society takes no position on specific legal or public policy issues; all opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker[^2^].*

## Keywords/Tags: #fedsoc, Federalist Society, conservative, libertarian, federalism, freedom of thought

## Video Transcript:

**Josh:**
Welcome, Randy. It’s a pleasure to have you here on the Freedom of Thought podcast. You’ve lived an extraordinary life, growing up as a Jewish kid in a Catholic town and becoming one of the most influential law professors in America. You’ve worked with some of the giants in libertarian political philosophy and achieved remarkable success in your field. Can you share a bit about your background and upbringing?

**Randy:**
Thank you, Josh. It’s an honor to be here. My journey towards libertarianism began with my father. He considered himself a conservative, and his beliefs resonated with me from a young age. When I heard Barry Goldwater say, “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue,” it struck a chord with me as a 12-year-old[^3^]. In fact, I even debated in favor of Barry Goldwater at 12 years old in front of my entire Junior High School. My father, who had always held libertarian values without realizing it, also became a Libertarian when I introduced the term to him. So, I would say my libertarian convictions stem from my dad and our shared belief in individual liberty and limited government.

**Josh:**
That’s fascinating, Randy. Our personal stories have some striking similarities. Like you, my father was also a Libertarian conservative. I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, surrounded by a culture that differed from our background, and I faced similar challenges as a Jew in a predominantly Catholic community. It’s incredibly inspiring how our experiences shape our thoughts and perspectives. Now, as we delve into your career and academic contributions, could you explain the connection between your libertarian convictions and your work in law school and as a law professor?

**Randy:**
Absolutely, Josh. During my junior year of college, I was introduced to libertarianism, and it quickly became a subject of great interest to me. By my senior year, I was teaching a seminar on libertarianism at Northwestern University. This passion for libertarianism carried over to law school, where I found myself isolated as there was no Federalist Society at the time. However, my life changed when I wrote a fan letter to Murray Rothbard, one of the giants of libertarian political philosophy. Through that letter, I connected with John Hagel, who was starting his law studies at Harvard. John and I teamed up to create a center for the study of social systems and later became involved with the Center for Libertarian Studies. These experiences fueled my research and teaching in various legal areas, including constitutional law and contract law, always with a libertarian perspective and the aim of promoting individual freedom and limited government.

## Conclusion:

In this interview, Prof. Randy Barnett shares his personal journey from his upbringing in a conservative household to becoming one of the most influential law professors in America. He attributes his libertarian convictions to his father’s influence and his experiences as an outsider in a diverse community. The connection between his libertarian convictions and his work as a law professor is profound, as he approaches various legal fields with a libertarian perspective. Through his remarkable career, Prof. Barnett has contributed extensively to legal discourse and continues to explore how libertarian premises can address the current challenges of culture wars.

*For more thought-provoking interviews, join us on the Freedom of Thought podcast series.*

## Sources:
[^1^]: [Prof. Randy Barnett’s citations](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9lGrEtQAAAAJ&hl=en)
[^2^]: [The Federalist Society disclaimer](https://fedsoc.org/about-us/disclaimer)
[^3^]: [Barry Goldwater’s quote](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/acceptance-speech-the-republican-national-convention-1)

Prof. Randy Barnett joins Prof. Joshua Kleinfeld to discuss how his life experiences have informed his libertarian convictions. Along the way, he has rubbed shoulders with some of the giants in Libertarian political philosophy and made significant contributions to the legal discourse – with over 24,000 citations. Now among the most highly regarded libertarian legal academics, Prof. Barnett considers how libertarian premises might be refined to address current institutional culture war challenges.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.