“I’m often asked why someone with a penchant for philosophy and an academic life joins the Marine Corps. Why, some ask, does a scribe lower the pen to pick up the sword?” So begins this stirring and thought-provoking Independence Day address by Lt. Col. Scott McDonald, USMC, to attendees at Objectivist Summer Conference 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The more fundamental question, McDonald states, is: “What motivates an individual in a largely free society — one which is by and large free of coercion — to volunteer to accept some limits on his freedom and put his life at risk. Why, in short, does a free man fight?”

This Veteran’s Day, ARI’s eStore is featuring three audio downloads:

• Defensor Patriae: The Homeland Defense in History, with John David Lewis, examines how great nations have defended themselves against ruthless enemies, drawing lessons for today.

• Aircraft Carrier: Defending America on the Seas and in the Air, with Talbot Manvel, explores the evolution of the aircraft carrier, one of the greatest inventions from the mind of man.

• The Morality of War, with Yaron Brook, details the moral principles that should guide a nation at war.

Visit ARI’s eStore to download these talks and others.

Disclaimer: Lt. Col. McDonald’s opinions are his own, and there is no endorsement implied by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the United States Marine Corps.

Image: Irina Chebotareva via Shutterstock.com