TOS-Con 2022

Craig Biddle

Is free will real or an illusion? If it is real, how do we know it, and what does it mean for our lives? If it’s an illusion, how do we know this, and what are the implications? In this talk, Craig Biddle will present steelman arguments both against and for free will, including those from Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Ayn Rand. Craig will argue that free will, properly conceived, is real, verifiable, and affirmed by any attempt to deny it—and that understanding and embracing free will is essential to living fully and achieving the greatest happiness possible.

Greg McKeown

Trivial pursuits can consume our time and energy at the expense of vital engagements that could make our lives far more meaningful and fulfilling. In this talk, Greg McKeown will discuss his philosophy of Essentialism and how it can help you choose and do what matters most. As he writes in Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less:

There are three deeply entrenched assumptions we must conquer to live the way of the Essentialist: “I have to,” “It’s all important,” and “I can do both.” Like mythological sirens, these assumptions are as dangerous as they are seductive. They draw us in and drown us in shallow waters.

To embrace the essence of Essentialism requires we replace these false assumptions with three core truths: “I choose to,” “Only a few things really matter,” and “I can do anything but not everything.” These simple truths awaken us from our nonessential stupor. They free us to pursue what really matters.

Come learn to “distinguish the vital few from the trivial many,” and create the life you desire and deserve.

Eric Daniels

To the extent that capitalism has existed, it has enabled human beings to achieve unparalleled productivity and prosperity. For this reason, many advocates of capitalism see it as practical. Few, however, see it as moral. Some of its defenders give capitalism only “two cheers” on the grounds that it enables businessmen selfishly to amass enormous wealth and results in economic inequality. Others try to justify capitalism on altruistic grounds, arguing that it’s good because it requires greedy businessmen to serve their fellow men. Still others argue that free markets are best because, due to man’s innate depravity, no one is good enough to rule others.

Dr. Eric Daniels will address such claims and make the case that capitalism is not only practical, but also the only moral social system—and the only one fit for morally good people.

Peter Boghossian

Open, honest conversation is essential to understanding our world, advancing knowledge, and correcting errors. But conversations about controversial subjects—such as religion, immigration, abortion, climate change, gender identity, and gun control—can be difficult, as people’s preconceptions come into play and defense mechanisms flare up. In this keynote, drawing from decades of research, teaching, and publishing on the subject, Dr. Peter Boghossian will present key principles for engaging constructively in seemingly impossible conversations.

Jon Wos

Great art is fuel for the soul. It can even be medicine for the soul. Few know this as well as artist Jon Wos. Born with a genetic bone disorder known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Jon began drawing and painting as a child. His art often reflected the futility he felt due to his condition. In time, he discovered Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, along with Romantic art, and he soon realized their power to transform his life. In this presentation, Jon will share his story, show his artwork, and discuss the philosophic and aesthetic principles that helped him create a successful career and beautiful life from an inauspicious start.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

In recent years, Western culture increasingly has been infected with “wokeism,” an ideological stew of identity politics, groupthink, “social justice,” Critical Race Theory, and the practice of “canceling” those who fail to toe the woke line. In this keynote, Ayaan Hirsi Ali will discuss the nature of wokeism, where it came from, why so many young people have adopted it, and the core principles necessary to reverse this trend and advance civilized society: individualism, personal agency, critical thinking, and freedom of speech.

Adam Carolla

In his teens and twenties, Adam Carolla cleaned carpets, dug ditches, went for long stretches without any work, and lived in poverty. He did not taste success until he was 31 years old. Adam will tell the story of how—relatively late in life and starting at zero—he created a career he loves in radio, comedy, podcasting, and writing, making buckets of money in the process. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. And you’ll see why: If he can do it, you can too.

Jon Hersey

“Dun dun dun da! Dun dun dun da!”

Those aren’t even words, yet for anyone familiar with Beethoven’s Fifth, these rhythms immediately evoke the emotional atmosphere of its booming onset. How do vibrations in air become a source of courage, a feeling of foreboding, a skin-tingling sense of rapture, or a yawn-inducing treadmill of notes? Why does the very same piece of music spark the first in one listener and the last in another? And what, if anything, does a person’s musical taste say about his mental habits or moral character?

Come cultivate your musical mind, investigate what attracts people to certain sonic tapestries, and learn how to find more of—and get more out of—the music you love.

Timothy Sandefur

The myth of Atlantis plays an important role in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. As one character says, it represents the place where “only the spirits of heroes could enter, and they reached it without dying, because they carried the secret of life within them.” In a sense, there is such a place: America—in terms of its founding principles, its essence. The woman who helped Rand to see Atlantis as the symbol for this essence was her friend and mentor Isabel Paterson—pioneering journalist and philosopher, and author of The God of the Machine. In this talk, Timothy Sandefur will explore the friendship between these two pathbreaking thinkers, who together offered future generations a pathway to Atlantis.

Jason Crawford

Enlightenment thinkers were tremendously optimistic about the potential for human progress—not only in science and technology, but also in morality and society. This optimism lasted through the 19th century, but in the 20th century, after the World Wars, it gave way to fear, skepticism, and distrust. Now, in the 21st century, this outlook is worsening. We need a new way forward: a new philosophy of progress. What events and ideas challenged the concept of progress? How can we restore it on a sound foundation? And how can we establish a positive, ambitious vision for the future? Jason Crawford will address these and related questions.

Amala Ekpunobi

Whatever labels you use to describe yourself, your fundamental label should be: independent thinker. Amala Ekpunobi learned this lesson as she stepped away from the leftist groupthink she had been raised with and began demanding evidence and logic in support of the ideas she accepts as true. In this talk, Amala will discuss her journey from her teenage years as an activist for the regressive left to her chosen policy of accepting ideas only when they make sense to her reasoning mind.

Zilvinas Silenas

Surveys indicate that a majority of young adults in Generation Z, which includes today’s high school and college students, have a negative view of capitalism and a positive view of socialism. But these surveys do not tell the whole story—or even the essential parts of it. Using data from the Foundation for Economic Education, Zilvinas Silenas will show that few young people know what either capitalism or socialism is, and that when they learn the history of and arguments for these competing systems, they tend to champion capitalism. Come learn the truth about Gen Z and how you can help young adults learn the truth about capitalism and socialism.

Wolf von Laer

The idea of Bitcoin as money is controversial for many reasons, not the least of which is that its widespread acceptance could help to free money from the grips of governments and thus disable the countless statist activities that depend on governments’ control of money. In this talk, Wolf von Laer will explain the fundamentals of Bitcoin, how it differs from the thousands of other crypto-projects, and why he sees Bitcoin as a vital tool in the fight for free markets and limited government (as well as a good investment).

Yeonmi Park

After escaping from the North Korean dictatorship in 2007, Yeonmi Park made her way to the United States, where she has been a voice of reason, speaking and writing about the horrors of socialism and the importance of freedom. In this talk, Yeonmi will tell her story and discuss, from firsthand experience, what socialism is, what freedom is, and the ways in which freedom is a necessary condition for people to live as human beings.

Craig Biddle

Binary, either-or thinking gets a bad rap—mostly because it is misunderstood and misapplied. In this presentation, Craig Biddle will discuss the principles involved in black-and-white thinking, right and wrong ways to categorize ideas in terms of either-or, benefits of doing so correctly, and harmful consequences of doing so incorrectly. You’ll learn how either-or thinking can help you to choose more carefully, live more fully, and advance freedom more effectively.

Several Panelists

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Peter Boghossian, Timothy Sandefur, and Craig Biddle will discuss the nature of civilized society, its basic principles, how they apply to the issues of the day, and how you can help advance the ideas on which human flourishing depends.

Join us for an action-oriented discussion, ask hard questions, get involved. This is how we make the world a better place to live.

• 2:00–6:00 pm Welcome and Check-In
• 7:00–10:00 pm Opening Reception and Banquet

• 9:15–10:15 am Free Will and Flourishing Craig Biddle
• 10:15–10:30 am Break
• 10:30–11:30 am Essentialism: Why and How to Do a Few Things Superbly Greg McKeown
• 11:30 am–1:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
• 1:15–2:15 pm Generation Z and Causes for Optimism Zilvinas Silenas
• 2:15–2:30 pm Break
• 2:30–3:30 pm Bitcoin as a Freeway to Freedom Wolf von Laer
• 3:30–4:00 pm Break
• 4:00–5:00 pm Realizing Romanticism Jon Wos
• 5:00–8:00 pm Free Time and Dinner (on your own)
• 8:00–9:00 pm If I Can, You Can Adam Carolla
• 9:15–10:45 pm Karaoke

• 9:15–10:15 am Music, Mind, and Morality Jon Hersey
• 10:15–10:30 am Break
• 10:30–11:30 am “Wokeism” and How to Counter It Ayanan Hirsi Ali
• 11:30 am–1:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
• 1:15–2:15 pm Toward a New Philosophy of Progress Jason Crawford
• 2:15–2:30 pm Break
• 2:30–3:30 pm Panel Discussion: The Future of Civilized Society
• 3:30–4:00 pm Break
• 4:00–5:00 pm How Isabel Paterson Helped Ayn Rand Find Atlantis Timothy Sandefur
• 5:00–8:00 pm Free Time and Dinner (on your own)
• 8:00–10:45 pm Salsa Lesson (Withrow) / Jam Session

• 7:00–8:00 am Animal Flow Class
• 9:15–10:15 am Saving Capitalism From Its Defenders Eric Daniels
• 10:15–10:30 am Break
• 10:30–11:30 am My Journey from the Regressive Left to Independent Thinking Amala Ekpunobi
• 11:30 am–1:15 pm Lunch (on your own)
• 1:15–2:15 pm How to Engage in Difficult Conversation Peter Boghossian
• 2:15–2:30 pm Break
• 2:30–3:30 pm Becoming Free, Becoming Human Yeonmi Park
• 3:30–4:00 pm Break
• 4:00–5:00 pm The Virtue of Black-and-White Thinking Craig Biddle
• 5:00–6:30 pm Break
• 6:30–10:45 pm Closing Banquet and Dance

TOS-Con is for people who want to live free and flourish. The theme of the conference—the thread connecting all of the lectures—is that freedom and flourishing are consequences of certain ideas that were developed over thousands of years and are still being refined today. The conference will help you to better understand and act on these ideas, to thrive in your ventures and relationships, and to support liberty on solid ground. If those are your goals, this conference is for you.

A great way to meet other attendees is to join TOS-Con 2022 on Facebook. Simply click “Join,” say hi, and enjoy a warm welcome. You can meet other attendees, find roommates, ask questions, post suggestions, and discover fun things to do in the Denver/Boulder area.

The conference will be held at the Westin Westminster Hotel, where TOS-Con’s group rates on guest rooms start at $149 per night. We recommend staying at The Westin, as that’s where all the action will be. The number of discounted rooms is limited, so book your room early. TOS-Con’s discounted rates apply for three days before and after the conference as well (based on availability), so if you’d like to arrive early or stay in the area for a few additional days, you can do so on the cheap.

Absolutely! Attendees are welcome to share rooms and split costs. If you’d like to find a roommate, we recommend posting a note on TOS-Con 2022’s Facebook page, where others will be looking for roommates as well.

The hotel is approximately 30 miles from Denver International Airport. Both Uber and Lyft provide transportation in the area.

You can also purchase a $9 round trip ticket on the RTD (Denver’s light rail system) from the airport to Westminster. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle service within 5 miles of the hotel, including transportation to/from the closest RTD train station.

If you’d like to share a ride with other conference attendees, post a note on TOS-Con 2022’s Facebook page, where others will be looking for shared rides, too.

The hotel’s address is 10600 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CO 80020.

Tickets for the opening and closing banquets (Wednesday and Saturday nights) can be purchased through TOS-Con’s registration page. There is a bar, a restaurant, and a Starbucks in the hotel, as well as several great places to eat within walking distance.