The Debt Dialogues is a weekly podcast that aims to educate young people about the welfare state and how it will affect their future. In this episode, I interview Tara Smith, a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas, and author of Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist, on the questions: What is happiness, and does the welfare state help or hinder our pursuit of happiness?

Issues covered include:

• Common misconceptions about happiness
• Can money buy happiness?
• The value of happiness studies
• Whether we have a moral obligation to make others happy
• The contribution of a productive career to a happy life

Other Resources:

• Tara Smith’s bio
• Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist – Tara Smith
• Money Can Buy Happiness – Tara Smith
• Ayn Rand on Happiness
• Ayn Rand on Money

Image: Bruce Rolff via Shutterstock.com