The Real American Founding: Equality and the Natural Law

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Kyle and Juan discuss the importance of a "common view of justice" before introducing David Azerrad and Thomas West. In this course, Thomas West, one of the leading scholars on the American Founding, is joined by David Azerrad, his former student and now colleague, to examine the principles of the Founders, explore the urgent political questions they faced, and reveal the choices they made to secure free government in America. The goal of their conversation is to move beyond a simple recitation of the abstract principles of the Founding and bring their political theory to life so we can see how the Founders approached the perennial problems of politics. A free society requires a people united in their understanding of the fundamental purpose of government and principles of justice. For the Founders this meant a political community committed to protecting everyone’s equal natural rights through laws that do not grant special exemptions or play favorites. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.