Rob Wiblin interviews Tyler on *Stubborn Attachments*

Time Biases argues that rationality requires temporal neutrality: we should not discount future or past events based on their timing. Meghan Sullivan uses real-life planning puzzles—such as retirement savings, compensation for injuries, and attitudes toward death or climate change—to show why time biases are irrational. Drawing from philosophy, psychology, and economics, she develops a theory of personal persistence over time and explains the origins of these biases through an evolved emotional heuristic model.

In 'Anarchy, State, and Utopia', Robert Nozick presents a rigorous argument in favor of a minimal state, limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, and the enforcement of contracts. He critiques more extensive state activities as violations of individual rights and argues against more extreme views such as anarcho-capitalism. Nozick's work is influenced by John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Hayek, and it includes a theory of rights, a critique of John Rawls' 'A Theory of Justice', and a model of utopia. The book is a foundational text of libertarian thought and has been widely acclaimed for its philosophical richness and analytical argumentation.

Derek Parfit's "Reasons and Persons" is a landmark work in contemporary philosophy, profoundly impacting discussions on personal identity, ethics, and rationality. Parfit challenges traditional notions of the self, arguing that our sense of personal identity is less coherent than we assume. He explores the implications of this for our moral obligations, particularly concerning future generations. The book delves into the complexities of decision-making under uncertainty, examining how we should weigh our present interests against the potential consequences of our actions for the future. Parfit's rigorous analysis and thought-provoking arguments have had a lasting influence on various fields, including ethics, political philosophy, and decision theory. His work continues to stimulate debate and inspire new research.

In 'The Complacent Class', Tyler Cowen argues that Americans have become too comfortable and resistant to change, which has resulted in decreased innovation and increased social segregation. He identifies three types of complacent individuals: the privileged, those who dig in, and those who are stuck. Cowen suggests that this complacency will eventually lead to a major crisis unless Americans embrace change and innovation again.