Discerning the Times 1 Thomas Sowell

Dr. Thomas Sowell and a Conflict of Visions (Chapter 1 of 5)

One of the great intellects of our time, Thomas Sowell, describes the critical differences between interests and visions. Interests, he says, are articulated by people who know what their interests are and what they want to do about them. Visions, however, are the implicit assumptions by which people operate. This idea elevates to politics, where visions are either constrained or unconstrained.

"A powerful antidote for people suffering from the dumbed-down bleating that passes for modern education. Go, Dr. Sowell, go!" The Vorthos Forum

About Thomas Sowell:
Thomas Sowell has studied and taught economics, intellectual history, and social policy at institutions that include Cornell, UCLA, and Amherst. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Sowell has published more than a dozen books. His 1987 book, A Conflict of Visions, was re-released in 2007

And thanks to National Review online and the Hoover Institute for making these clips possible.
http://tv.nationalreview.com

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Education

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• communications
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• humanities
• economics
• Thomas
• Jefferson
• Federalism
• freedom
• socialism

[darwinkilledgod]

He's too intellectual to run for president. He doesn't rally people with empty slogans about "change" or "putting country first."

[frasmus]

Thomas Sowell is a true scholar. Now you see there. So many voices today are trying to discredit the Austrian School. They either have alterier motives or they are complete fools. Thomas has a clear straightforward recipe of common sense. That is so refreshing these days.

[NoComPAC]

Good stuff my friend. And very sobering.

[nphanlon1973]

i would love to see him on bill maher,jon stewart,steve colbert....

[petepittsburgh]

@sgtbuckwheat After viewing the clip again, I see that you are right. I misunderstood his point the first time. Thanks.

[sgtbuckwheat]

@petepittsburgh I believe what is meant by constrained is we are constrained by our limitations as humans. We are not perfect. The unconstrained view, from what I can tell, is that human potential is such that we can become perfect, and the best way to do that is to put those who are closer to perfect in charge so they can make the rest of us like them, then another set of leaders even better comes along and they are put in power so the cycle can repeat, eventually perfecting humanity.

[MrBWB]

@frasmus isn't sowell chicago school?

[DandDskeeto]

@ipwnallnubscuzirock

Look up mental giant in the dictionary and you will see his pic.

[DandDskeeto]

@veronicafoxx1984

I'll go along with that !

[Anteater1234567]

@frasmus Thomas Sowell does not subscribe to the Austrian school of economics.

[petepittsburgh]

What's up with them saying we are a flawed species therefore we need constraints? That's not true. I'm against the France/Obama unconstrained vision, but I also believe that ppl aren't born good or bad, they are born free. The founding fathers set up the govt not to constrain a "flawed species," but to ensure that ppl have the freedom to make the life choices they want, flawed or not.

[veronicafoxx1984]

Only God could have made a man like Dr. Sowell.