#38 Ryan Alford: Seven Absolute Rights and necessary limits on government

Our legal history will shock you. It has more tradition than libertarians can stomach and more anti-government sentiment than conservatives can tolerate.

Dr. Alford explains why we need both more history and more enthusiasm to put government in its place. He ends with a message of hope for rescuing Canada.

Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Historical Foundations of Canada's Rule of Law

AI summary:

We delve into the depths of constitutional history and law with Dr. Ryan Alford, a professor at Lakehead University's Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. Dr. Alford shares insights from his book 'Seven Absolute Rights' and discusses the importance of understanding historical traditions in constitutional law. The conversation covers Canada's rule of law, the invocation of the Emergencies Act, and the significance of nonderogable rights. This episode also highlights the differences between practical wisdom and cleverness in legal contexts, the impact of historical understanding on contemporary issues, and the role of disputation in uncovering truth.

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of History

00:46 Exciting Episode with Ryan Alfred

01:09 Discussion on Constitutional Issues in Canada

02:59 Interview with Dr. Ryan Alford

03:19 Exploring 'Seven Absolute Rights'

04:03 COVID-19 and Constitutional Norms

06:33 Nonderogable Rights and Historical Context

10:29 The Rule of Law and Its Challenges

19:10 Common Law and Legal Philosophy

31:09 Government Power and Legal Restraints

35:22 Lincoln's Argument and Constitutional Implications

36:02 Practical Wisdom vs. Cleverness in Governance

37:31 Sophistry and Philosophy in Legal Tradition

39:44 The Role of History in Modern Legal Theory

43:28 Hegelian Influence on Contemporary Thought

48:36 The Timeless Relevance of Greek Tragedy

56:18 Rationalism and the Quest for Knowledge

58:38 Hope for Canada's Constitutional Future