Learn the Best Ideas For Advancing Capitalism

by Jackson UpmannPolitics & LibertySep 18, 2024

How can we create a world of immense prosperity?

A world where individuals are fully free to produce, trade, and pursue happiness?

A world unrestricted by the chains of authoritarianism and dictatorship?

In short: a world of human flourishing?

By advancing capitalism—by understanding exactly what capitalism is, which ideas support it, and which undermine it.

In Defenders of Capitalism, Eric Daniels, assistant director of the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, will present key ideas and arguments of the best pro-capitalist thinkers.

You’ll learn the strengths and weaknesses of their ideas, and how to use their most effective principles to make a compelling case for free minds and free markets.

You’ll cover:

  • Adam Smith’s revolutionary views on free markets, individual liberty, and the role of government,
  • Frédéric Bastiat’s defense of free society as well as his groundbreaking ideas on unintended consequences, the harmony of men’s interests, and the nature of justice,
  • John Stuart Mill’s case for liberty, including his “harm principle” and his view of how society can best protect liberty,
  • F. A. Hayek’s theories of spontaneous order and cultural evolution, how these can help us understand and improve social harmony, and how he defines coercion and argues against it,
  • Milton Friedman’s arguments for political and economic freedom, his utilitarian view of value, and his theory of government,
  • Ayn Rand’s grounding of capitalism in ethics and reason, and how she conceives of and integrates moral and economic value.

Come deepen and refine your understanding of capitalism, become a more powerful advocate of freedom, and fight more effectively for a future of flourishing.

Classes begin October 14.

Enroll Now

If you’re 29 or younger, you can apply for a scholarship.

Apply Now

On Solid Ground

On Solid Ground is the hub for content from OSI fellows and affiliates, along with announcements about OSI’s programs and events. Here, you’ll find links to our team’s articles, videos, and other materials published across various platforms. And you’ll discover opportunities to support and engage with our global community.

Latest Blog Posts

From Anxiety to Serenity

by Seamus RileyLifestyle, Philosophy

Oct 14, 2025

Seamus shares how he broke free from negative emotional patterns using philosophy, psychology, and personal experience.

Death after Religion

by Maddox LocherPhilosophy

Oct 13, 2025

Maddox shares how accepting mortality after losing faith brought deeper meaning and urgency to his life.

Discussing Metaethics with Craig Biddle

by Craig BiddlePhilosophy

Oct 13, 2025

Craig Biddle and philosopher Lance Bush dive into metaethics—exploring intrinsicism, subjectivism, and Objectivism—and what each view means for understanding “good” and “value.”

How to Embrace Mortality For Flourishing

by Maddox LocherPhilosophy

Oct 1, 2025

What if Christianity's promise of an afterlife is obstructing our motivation to fully live the one life we know we have? And what if living fully requires navigating obstacles like this and confronting our mortality?