Critics and Criticism
I gave some thought on whether I should offer a well-rounded list on this page or simply put together some of the best critics of Stefan Molyneux’s FreeDomain Radio. I keep coming to the same conclusion I had in 10 Questions for QuestEon. FreeDomain Radio is a business that promotes itself very well, full of members who are happy to promote it voluntarily.
You won’t have to look very hard to find thoughtful as well as uncritical praise for FDR. It’s a little harder to find equally thoughtful criticism. That’s not because it isn’t there, it’s because no one’s trying to get rich at it! In addition, quite a few libertarians, including anarcho-capitalists, consider Molyneux a figure so minor that they simply dismiss him altogether. Those who find this site overly critical should at least take solace that criticism at least indicates a greater attitude of respect than outright dismissiveness! With all that in mind, here are a few places to get alternate perspectives. (And check back here every once in a while. I’ll make a half-hearted attempt to add more.)
Web Sites
Liberating Minds--The essential site for unrestricted discussion of Stefan Molyneux’s philosophy (and the second most-read site by FDR members!) This link goes to the main portal and this link goes to the FDR section. People who make their last post on FDR--either because they have been banned or become fed up--often immediately follow it up with their first post in Liberating Minds. As a result, some Liberating Minds members jokingly refer to it as the post-graduate site for FDR.
Molyneux Revealed--Molyneux once said in a podcast “I think the parents of those who have defooed have kept it even more a guilty secret than those who have defood–it’s a very hard thing to talk about.” No such luck, Stefan. It sounds to me like the parents are angry and they’re getting vocal. This site was created for defooed parents by defooed parents.
Iconoclast or Malcontent--If you like your criticism on the lighter side, then don’t miss this site by Karen. Click on the “FDR--Not Just Another Evil Statist” category to find perceptive insights delivered with dry wit. Go for the articles on FDR; stay for the articles on cooking and Mad Men.
Blog Posts or Articles
The Molyneux Project--The most definitive analysis ever delivered on Molyneux’s philosophy was by Danny Shahar, who is at this time a graduate student in philosophy. I covered the story of this project in The Promise and Failure of UPB. This link takes you to Shahar’s actual, in-depth critique. He’s several gazillion times smarter than me, so I have to make an effort to understand it. However, I learn more with each read-through.
Stefan Molyneux and Freedomain Radio--A writer named BrainPolice is wont to give some very thoughtful observations about FDR, and several of his posts can be found on the blog Polycentric Disorder, which also features articles by other equally thoughtful writers. This is one of BrainPolice’s posts, in which he also lays out a few criticisms of Liberating Minds. Ah, egality. While you’re at Polycentric Disorder, throw “Stefan Molyneux,” “FreeDomain Radio,” or “stefbot” into the search box and more interesting articles will pour out.
Retrospective Thoughts On The Convo With Molyneux--One of those aforementioned BrainPolice essays is this one. This article is illuminating in two significant ways. The first is the topic at hand--libertarianism and philosophy. The second is about how Molyneux’s conversation style is often more about fogging, dodging, and trying to win a debate than collaboratively seeking the truth. (To his credit, Molyneux offered BrainPolice’s essay as part of his own podcast series.)
Audio/Video
There is a world of people quick of tongue, with mellifluous voices, who communicate better through video and audio better than writing.
I ain’t one of them.
Molyneux, however, does to a significant amount of recruiting via podcast and YouTube, where he posts videos under the name “Stebot.” So there are those who critique that work using the same media. Here are a few of those.
In the sidebar for this video, aaron0883 adds: “The podcast that I couldn’t quote on the spot is 1163. Anyone who thinks that Molyneux is honest MUST listen to 1163 … he goes through the details about why he is dishonest, and how he does it. I just listened to it again … it is truely revealing, and it is only 18 minutes. 1046 is pretty bullshit too.”
This is Part 1….
(LaughingMan0x includes links to additional notes and references in his sidebar, so I also recommend you visit the YouTube page directly for this video).
I found some additional thoughts on UPB that BrainPolice wrote after I had already published The Promise and Failure of UPB. Highly recommended…
…and so is this one.
