Among those positively mentioned are Mises, Rothbard, Hayek, Nozick, Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman, Walter Block and Hans Hoppe.
I am honored to be included in that august company.
3:41 am on November 23, 2023
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I was asked to mention my five favorite books along with a short description of each. Here is my list:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The best novel ever written
Economics in one lesson by Henry Hazlitt. The best introduction to economics ever written
The Ethics of Liberty by Murray Rothbard: the best introduction to libertarianism ever written
Man, Economy and State by Murray Rothbard. The best book on economics ever written
Human Action by Ludwig von Mises. The second best book on economics ever written
7:50 am on October 28, 2023
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Argentine Anarcho-capitalist Hero Javier Milei Cites Walter Block Part II
Here are some other instances of this phenomenon:
He mentions you in this interview with The Economist:
https://www.economist.com/news/2023/09/07/an-interview-with-javier-milei
He also mentions you in the following tweets, in addition to the one I already sent:
https://x.com/JMilei/status/725092398582341632?s=20
https://x.com/JMilei/status/1351682971846098944?s=20
(an hour-long video in which he discusses Defending the Undefendable)
https://x.com/JMilei/status/1083880449552850945?s=20
(Translation: “I see that you don’t know that anarcho-capitalism exists… it seems that authors like Murray Rothbard, Walter Block and Jesús Huerta de Soto have not reached your hands, YOU IGNORANT PIECE OF F….. F……”)
https://x.com/JMilei/status/1219060606445199360?s=20
https://x.com/JMilei/status/711144018193870848?s=20
https://x.com/JMilei/status/1236955594407456768?s=20
4:36 am on October 21, 2023
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From: Bylund,
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 4:29 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: Speaker question
FYI
PER
From: Bylund
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: Speaker question
Lance,
Thank you for your comments. I agree with you that Wikipedia is not a good source of information and would add it is often hopelessly inaccurate and misleading. But more information and proper preparation is never a bad thing. I certainly hope that the protestors can behave, which they did when Epstein gave his talk on fossil fuels recently.
For your information, and to facilitate the preparation of whatever responses you or the president’s office may find necessary, the two lectures that Dr. Block will give are based in his books and other publications. The first, on the rationale and implications of legalizing blackmail, is based on a chapter in his 1976 book Defending the Undefendable. Dr. Block’s argument, simply put, is that no one has property rights to one’s reputation, which exists in the form of opinions in the minds of other people. As a result, there is no violation in offering to not share such information for monetary or other payment.
In the second lecture, Dr. Block will argue that the privatization of public or unowned resources (roads, oceans, space) will solve existing problems that arise due to the public goods problem (also known as the ‘tragedy of the commons’) and will increase economic growth and thus the world’s future standard of living. This lecture is in part based on his books Privatization of Roads and Highways (2006) and Water Capitalism: The Case for Privatizing Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, and Aquifers (2016).
Dr. Block’s takes on these topics are both interesting and unusual, not to mention thought-provoking, but hardly the stuff that warrants a protest, as I’m sure you agree. I think you can also see that the issues and his arguments are relevant for many of our students as well as for the Free Enterprise Society, who hosts these events.
I would be happy to make an official comment for any reactive statements OSU finds itself needed to issue.
PLB
From: Latham
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: Speaker question
Dr. Bylund,
Thanks for sharing. Not that Wikipedia is the end all and be all of information, it’s probably a good idea to review the page dedicated to Dr. Block. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Block
The university will now need to be prepared for his visit, which will obviously need to include OSUPD and potential media reactive statements, as the president’s office received complaints from faculty regarding Mr. Epstein’s visit…which we immediatly mitigated because is wasn’t an actual “issue.” That said, this visit is likely going to require a higher level of preparedness given the topics involved and Dr. Block’s past positions.
From: Bylund
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 6:21 PM
To: Shannon
Subject: Re: Speaker question
Hi Shannon,
Thank you for your message. First, let me I assure you that Dr. Block is not what the protest flyer makes him out to be. He is a respected scholar, author, and speaker that we should be proud to host on campus.
This protest flyer that you shared (thank you!) was actually brought to my attention a couple of days ago and I was appalled by this smearing of Dr. Block. I am frankly quite troubled by how the anonymous producer of the flyer, presumably a student on campus, so casually misrepresents Block’s position and carelessly quotes him out of context.
The very first quote serves as an illustration of this. It quotes from a New York Times article to make Block out as a proponent of slavery. However, this is a quote chosen in bad faith or, at best, based on very bad research. The quoted statement is one for which Block sued the newspaper for libel – a suit that ended with the NYT settling with Dr. Block and allowing him to publish an article in the newspaper stating his true position.
The other quotes and comments similarly misrepresent Dr. Block, who is a proponent of every person’s equal and inalienable rights. He has made this clear in his many books, hundreds of essays and speeches, as well as in his scholarship. Dr. Block is certainly not a proponent of slavery or rape, as the flyer makes him out to be, but on the contrary a vocal opponent of force and aggression – regardless of who initiates it.
We have no reason at all to think Dr. Block, his scholarship or opinions, would be unsuitable for visiting our campus. It is quite the contrary.
Best regards,
Bylund
From: Shannon
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 4:55 PM
To: Bylund
Subject: Speaker question
Hi Dr. Bylund,
Our digital media team found this protest flyer being promoted. The comments attributed to the speaker for tomorrow and Wednesday are troubling. Do you know if Walter Block said these things? Who vets the speakers?
Thank you for your help.
Shannon
4:33 am on October 20, 2023
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Dear Folks:
I have been invited to give a series of speeches by a libertarian group at Oklahoma State University starting tomorrow, 10/17/23. I am scheduled to speak on the privatization of roads, oceans, space, and on libertarian issues such as blackmail. This visit of mine was publicized to the entire campus community. It led to a protest being planned to make it impossible for me to be heard.
Below, see correspondence between me and Landen who had invited me on this occasion. See the announcements of my talks. Most important, see the petition that the protesters are circulating
Best regards,
Walter
From: Landen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: !RE: Developments Regarding Your Upcoming Lecture at OSU
Dr. Block,
By all means, go right ahead.
Landen
On Mon, Oct 16, 2023 at 8:14 AM Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Landen:
Is it ok with you if I blog this correspondence of ours?
Best regards,
Walter
From: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2023 5:52 PM
To: ‘Landen
Subject: RE: !RE: Developments Regarding Your Upcoming Lecture at OSU
Dear Landen:
Notes to the protestors at the event is all well and good and I support it.
But you can’t put all the info I sent you on a poster. I urge you to e mail the info I’ve sent you to the entire campus community.
Is there some error on the dates? I arrive at your place on Tuesday, 10/17 at 4:05pm and depart on Thursday, 10/19 and 9:30am. I thought I would be speaking for you on the evening of 10/17 and pretty much all day on wed, 10/18 (a lunch and a dinner presentation?)
But you have me speaking on 10/19 at lunch. Is this an error? Can it be rectified if so?
I’d like to give 3 presentations:
1. privatizing roads oceans, etc.
2. blackmail etc
3. refuting the charges against me: slavery, racism, sexism, etc
Would this be possible to arrange? I’d like them all taped, and you send me the urls afterward
Best regards,
Walter
From: Landen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: !RE: Developments Regarding Your Upcoming Lecture at OSU
Attached is the second flyer. I accidentally sent the previous email without attaching this one.
Landen
On Sun, Oct 15, 2023 at 5:10 PM Landen wrote:
Dr. Block,
I will see what I can do about getting your statement out to the protestors. I may attempt to make some flyers we could hand out to the protestors at the event that counter their claims against you. It is incredible how little they’ve read into your views considering the magnitude of their tenacity to give you the boot.
I will attach below the flyers we made for your lectures containing the times, locations, topics, etc.
We will have someone at the airport to pick you up. I’ll follow up with you on this once I have more information.
Regards,
Landen
On Sun, Oct 15, 2023 at 1:39 AM Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Landen:
Full steam ahead, say I.
Share this with the protestors, with whomever you think it will help.
I was talking about voluntary slavery not actual slavery. It was a hypothetical! The NYTimes mistquoted me. I sued them and won a settlement. I have a long track history of favoring reparations to the grandchildren of actual slaves. How can I both support actual slavery and also favor reparations for this crime?
Suppose my grandfather stole a wristwatch from your grandfather. Then, my grandfather passed it down to my dad, who gave it to me. Posit, that had this theft not taken place, your granddad would have given the watch to your dad, and from him it would have passed on to you. Should I be compelled, by law, to hand over that watch to you? It still has your grandfathers initials, or picture, or both, on it.
You say I should keep it? You want to promote theft? I say, I owe you that watch. That’s the case for reparations
Here are my publications on this matter:
Alston and Block, 2007; Amos and Block, unpublished; Block, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2019, 2014, 2020A, 2020B; Block and Yeatts, 1999-2000; Crepelle and Block, 2017; Nouveau and Block, 2020.
Alston, Wilton D. and Walter E. Block. 2007. “Reparations, Once Again.” Human Rights Review, Vol. 9, No. 3, September, pp. 379-392; http://tinyurl.com/2b75fl; https://philpapers.org/rec/ALSROA; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12142-007-0055-x
Amos, Jon-Paul and Walter E. Block. Unpublished. “Contra Horowitz: A Case for Reparations to Blacks for Slavery.”
Block, Walter E. 1993. “Malcolm X,” Fraser Forum, January, pp. 18-19; http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/5361.aspx
Block, Walter E. 2001. “The Moral Dimensions of Poverty, Entitlements and Theft,” The Journal of Markets and Morality, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 83-93; http://www.acton.org/publicat/m_and_m/2001_spring/block.html; http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=922087; http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketsandmorality.com%2Findex.php%2Fmandm%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F587%2F577&ei=lBn9UuLIOtDOkQe1toHwBw&usg=AFQjCNF2MZ5XoFKKMF5UcOfOT5Kv-HQgZA&sig2=VVYWZhyl0ZmAWRAKXtkxWw; Search for “Walter Block” under “Authors” here: http://www.marketsandmorality.com/index.php/mandm/search
Block, Walter E. 2002A. “On Reparations to Blacks for Slavery,” Human Rights Review, Vol. 3, No. 4, July-September, pp. 53-73;
http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/reparations_slavery.pdf; https://link.springer.com/journal/12142/3/4/page/1; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12142-002-1003-4
(David Horowitz, Randall Robinson)
Block, Walter E. 2020B. “Return of Stolen Property: A Libertarian Case for Reparations.” December 18; https://www.theepochtimes.com/return-of-stolen-property-a-libertarian-case-for-reparations_3177301.html
Block, Walter E. 2019. “Return of Stolen Property: A Libertarian Case for Reparations.” December 23; https://www.theepochtimes.com/return-of-stolen-property-a-libertarian-case-for-reparations_3177301.html
Block, Walter E. 2020. “Reparations.” February 16;
https://www.unz.com/article/reparations/
Block, Walter E. and Guillermo Yeatts. 1999-2000. “The Economics and Ethics of Land Reform: A Critique of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace’s ‘Toward a Better Distribution of Land: The Challenge of Agrarian Reform,’” Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Law, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 37-69; http://www.walterblock.com/publications/ethics_land_reform.pdf
Crepelle, Adam and Walter E. Block. 2017. “Property Rights and Freedom: The Keys to Improving Life in Indian Country.” Washington & Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice; Vol. 23, Issue 2, Article, 3, pp. 314-342; http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1435&context=crsj; http://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/crsj/vol23/iss2/3/
Houma Indian
Nouveau, Lucas and Walter E. Block. 2020. “A comment on reparations for slavery.” Libertas: Segunda Epoca; http://www.journallibertas.com/online-first.html
As for female wages being below that of males, it is mostly due to marital assymetry. Wives do way more cooking, cleaning, baby care than husbands. The ratio of female to male wages is about .7. That is for all people. Do you know what the what the ratio is for never married males and females? It is 1.0. There isn’t any gap for them!
Here are some readings on this:
Becker, 1971, 1983, 1993; Block, 2014; Block and Walker, 1985; Block and Williams, 1981; Dubner, 2016; Hoff-Summers, 2017; Lehmann, 2018; Levin, 1987; Lukas, 2011; Marcus, 2020; McGee, 2017; Mincer and Polachek, 1974; Mortell, 2022; Perry, 2014; Sandel and Loury, 2020; Sowell, 1982; Woods, 2017
Becker, Gary S. The economics of discrimination. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1971.
Becker, Gary S. Human capital, Effort and the sexual Division Labour. Journal of Labour Economics, Vol 3,No 5, 1985, p. 33-58.
Becker, Gary S. Nobel lecture: The Economic Way of Looking at Behavior. Journal of Political Economy, 101(3), 1993, p. 385-409.
Block, Walter and Michael A. Walker. 1985. Focus on Employment Equity: A Critique of the Abella Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, Vancouver: The Fraser Institute.
Block, Walter E. and Walter E. Williams. 1981. “Male-Female Earnings Differentials: A Critical Reappraisal,” The Journal of Labor Research, Vol. II, No. 2, Fall, pp. 385-388; http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/mfearningdifferentials.pdf
Sayers, Rachel. 2012. “The Cost of Being Female: Critical Comment on Block.” Journal of Business Ethics; Vol. 106, No. 4, April, 519-524;
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-011-1017-4;
I am very proud of Rachel for writing this, and, sorry to blow my own horn, proud of myself for helping her get this essay published in a prestigious refereed journal. Why? This is due to the fact that this former student of mine not only takes a position 180 degrees apart from mine, but, also, directly criticizes my own work on this matter. (Needless to say, this brilliant but in my view mistaken on this one issue student earned an “A” in this course; her essay started out as a term paper for one of my courses).
Block, Walter E. 2014. “The Cost of Being female: Rejoinder to Sayers.” The Review of Social and Economic Issues (RSEI), Vol. 1, No. 1, Summer, pp. 37-69; http://rsei.rau.ro/images/V1N1/Walter%20E%20Block%20.pdf; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-011-1017-4;
Dubner , Stephen J. 2016. “The True Story of the Gender Pay Gap.” January 7;
Hoff-Summers, Christina. 2017. “Male-female wage gap.” March 7; http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/03/feminists-celebrities-and-politicians.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29
Lehmann, Claire. 2018. “Why is There a Pay Gap Between Male and Female Uber Drivers?.” February 6;
Levin, Michael. 1987. Feminism and Freedom, New York: Transaction Books
Lukas, Carrie. 2011. “There Is No Male-Female Wage Gap: A study of single, childless urban workers between the ages of 22 and 30 found that women earned 8% more than men.” Wall Street Journal, April 12;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704415104576250672504707048.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Marcus, David. 2020. “The American Left Has Now Fully Embraced Racism.” December 9; https://thefederalist.com/2020/12/19/the-american-left-has-now-fully-embraced-racism/
McGee, Robert W. 2017. The Alleged Gender Pay Gap: A Comment on Horwitz. Working Paper. March 30. http://ssrn.com/abstract=2943866.
Perry, Mark J. 2014. “Once you impose the ‘ceteris paribus’ condition, the alleged 23% gender pay gap starts to quickly evaporate.” April 2;
Mincer, J.; Polachek, S. Family investment in human capital: Earning of Women. Journal of Political Economy, 82 (2), 1974, p. 96ñ108.
Mortell, Connor. 2022. “Are Equal Pay Arguments Based upon the Labor Theory of Value?” April 19;
https://mises.org/wire/are-equal-pay-arguments-based-upon-labor-theory-value
Perry, Mark J. 2014. “Once you impose the ‘ceteris paribus’ condition, the alleged 23% gender pay gap starts to quickly evaporate.” April 2;
Sandel, Michael and Glenn Loury. 2020. “The Question of Affirmative Action: An Interview with Glenn Loury.” December 16; https://quillette.com/2020/12/16/the-question-of-affirmative-action-an-interview-with-glenn-loury/
Sowell, Thomas. 1982. “Weber and Bakke and the presuppositions of ‘Affirmative Action,’” Discrimination, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, Walter E. Block and Michael Walker, eds., Vancouver: The Fraser Institute, pp. 37-63
Woods, Tom. 2017. “That Male-Female Wage Gap.” February 4;
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/02/thomas-woods/male-female-wage-gap/
I favor rape? That is libelous. Untrue. Note, they don’t quote me on that.
Maybe, broadcast this response of mine to the entire university?
What is the program? I think I’m to give two lectures. Please tell me when, where and the topics for each. I’d be glad to debate any professor on campus on these charges, if we can fit in a third appearance.
My flight arrives at 4:05 pm on Tuesday, 10/17. United Airlines flight 1373 from Denver. Will someone meet me at the airport?
Best regards,
Walter
From: Landen
Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2023 8:56 PM
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Developments Regarding Your Upcoming Lecture at OSU
Dr. Block,
It has come to my attention that protests are being organized by a loosely organized leftist group due to your upcoming presence on our campus. They have been distributing flyers making various claims about your views. They have also begun contacting administration and organizing a petition to have your lectures cancelled by the University. I will attach these below.
Last week the same group showed up to a lecture by Alex Epstein regarding fossil fuels and were not insignificant in number. They handed out various (largely inaccurate) papers detailing some of his views and some “facts” about the climate etc. They were generally respectful but the chanting was a bit of an interruption.
That being said, the odds of their petition succeeding are close to zero. The primary issue would be that their noise drowns out your talks. We are coordinating with school administrators to minimize this potentiality.
Please let me know what concerns or suggestions you might have regarding this information.
Landen
4:30 am on October 20, 2023
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Dear Ed:
Thanks for your kind words.
Accountants are certified, not licensed. That’s what CPA stands for. Your daughter’s fears do not exist in that sector of the economy. Get her to read chapter 9 of this book: Friedman, Milton. 1962. Capitalism and Freedom, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Here is a wealth of information on this topic.
Best regards,
Walter
From: Goldbug
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: question on certification
Dear Walter,
I hope you are well and this email finds you.
I’m enjoying reading your substack articles. I hope you make money at it. Let me know if there are any ways I can help you build a business model. I have built my own newsletter, worked for other newsletter promoters, and co founded the dollar vigilante newsletter.
Off topic question. I’m trying to teach my relatively unskooled daughter about economics and business. She recently got a certification for her nail business. She’s an 18 year old entrepreneur so that’s positive. But I took the opportunity to try and teach her the difference between certification and licensing. I failed miserably, lol. We got hung up in arguing about whether the certification is accredited and by whom. It was hard to explain how accreditation would work on an open market. She would argue that by the time any non government accreditor was well known by the consumer, much damage could already be done, as she sees in her nail business consumers who make rash decisions about even their fingers.
So she believes that in the case of doctors if there wasn’t a licensing authority that everyone could trust the system would produce bunk surgeries and have people walking around with defects. I mean, I know why that wouldn’t be true ultimately, but I couldn’t think of a good way to explain why there are no short cuts that don’t come with higher long term costs.
I think it’s the trade off between short and long term that I am having trouble elucidating!
Anyway, I know you’re busy, not expecting a reply at all, although if you have written more about this somewhere I’d love to find it for when I get another chance at being teacher.
Cheers,
Ed
“The State always means coercion” Ludwig von Mises
3:57 am on October 16, 2023
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Argentine Anarcho-capitalist Hero Javier Milei Cites Walter Block
A friend of mine wrote me as follows:
Have you noticed that Argentine anarcho-capitalist hero Javier Milei has cited you as an influence many times? This tweet–replying to a post that has since been deleted–is just one example of many:
Te sugiero que leas el libro de Walter Block “Defendiendo lo indefendible”. Te hará sentir un PELOTUDO por lo afirmado en este Tweet.
— Javier Milei (@JMilei) August 20, 2017
Translation: “I suggest you read Walter Block’s book “Defending the Undefendable.” It will make you feel like an ASSHOLE for what is stated in this Tweet.”
I googled this, trying to get other examples. I got nowhere. If anyone can help me on this, I’d be very grateful.
Best regards,
Walter
3:55 am on October 16, 2023
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When I began my writing career, what held me back was my perfectionist hangup. The eyes of history were looking over my typewriter and shaking their collective heads at me, saying things like “no,” or “bs” or “are you kidding?” or “this is pathetic.” When I could fully tell the eyes of history to F off, a great burden was lifted from me and I could write much more easily. To combat this hangup of mine, I adopted this motto:” The next piece I write will be perfect. As far as this one right here is concerned, I’ll just do my best.” I actually printed this up and hung it on a wall near where I was writing.
Another trick I pulled on myself. I would write this and also hang it on the wall: “This essay I am now writing must be perfect.” And then I would try to laugh at that statement.
I hope and trust this will be of help to all those who share with me this psychological hangup of perfectionism.
10:12 am on September 5, 2023
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Debate between Walter Block and Mark Skousen on the Morality of Prostitution
This is a nine-part series. Don’t miss any part of this important debate!
This debate started off with this op ed of mine: https://walterblock.substack.com/p/legalize-prostitution
Here is Mark’s initial commentary on this op ed:
#1
From: Mark Skousen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Legalize Prostitution — one thing thou lackest
Dear Walter,
I agree with legalizing prostitution, drugs, and even abortion up to a certain time period, but as Jesus said to the young rich man, “one thing thou lackest.” Whenever you legalize an immoral behavior that can have cultural impact, you need to begin an active program of persuasion. When prohibition was ended in 1933, guess what? AA got started to discourage alcoholism. When Roe v Wade became law by the Supreme Court, pro-life groups were energized to preach sexual responsibility and encourage adoption of out-of-wedlock children; as a result, abortions began a long decline. So when you legalize prostitution, all kinds of organizations including the Bully Pulpit of our political leaders, need to begin a program to discourage prostitution and sexual responsibility, and encourage traditional marriage as a way to moderate the passions of lust.
See my pamphlet “Persuasion vs Force”: Persuasion vs. Force – MSKOUSEN.COM
BTY, I sent in my contribution to your Festschrift.
With all good wishes, AEIOU
Mark
Mark Skousen
Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise Chapman University
Newsletter: www.markskousen.com
Free weekly e-letter: https://www.markskousen.com/signups/skousen-investor-cafe/
Personal website: www.mskousen.com
Annual conference: www.freedomfest.com
Producer, FreedomFest
“The World’s Largest Gathering of Free Minds”
July 10-13, 2024, The Mirage
Here is my reaction
#2
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 07:04:13 PM EDT, Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Mark:
I am a libertarian, not an ethicist. A libertarian asks but one question, and gives one answer. The question: what is just law? The answer: whatever violates person and property rights.
Whether behavior is “immoral” or not is a question outside of the realm of libertarianism.
I think abortion is necessarily murder, hence, a crime:
30. Block, Walter E. 2021. Evictionism: The compromise solution to the pro-life pro-choice debate controversy. Springer Publishing Company. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-16-5014-7;
For reviewers: https://www.springer.com/gp/reviewers; https://www.springer.com/gp/instructors/textbook-copy-request-us/17556774;
https://dam.springernature.com/preview/8qkJz6AE4NVAo0r_q1x9IT/previews/maxWidth_600.png?&authcred=YXBpX2V4dGVybjpndWVzdA; file:///C:/Users/WBlock/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/HK3CWM0N/Block%20Evictionism%20The%20compromise%20solution%20to%20the%20pro-life%20pro-choice%20debate%20controversy%20(Walter%20E.%20Block)%20(z-lib.org).pdf; https://b-ok.cc/book/18608872/f7d2ac;
A unique perspective to the pro-life, pro-choice debate. Explores themes of property rights in relation to human life and rights. Offers a balanced debate on the topic of human rights.
Evictionism- The compromise solution to the pro-life pro-choice debate controversy__.pdf
file:///C:/Users/WBlock/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/0AGF02JT/__Evicitionism-%20The%20compromise%20solution%20to%20the%20pro-life%20pro-choice%20debate%20controversy__.pdf
Best regards,
Walter
Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 15, Miller Hall 318
New Orleans LA 70118
https://walterblock.substack.com/
#3
From: Mark Skousen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Legalize Prostitution — one thing thou lackest
But libertarians are making a moral judgment when they say you can’t initiate violence.
And you can’t ignore the moral issue when it comes to prostitution, abortion, drugs, etc.
Mark
Mark Skousen
Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise Chapman University
Newsletter: www.markskousen.com
Free weekly e-letter: https://www.markskousen.com/signups/skousen-investor-cafe/
Personal website: www.mskousen.com
Annual conference: www.freedomfest.com
Producer, FreedomFest
“The World’s Largest Gathering of Free Minds”
July 10-13, 2024, The Mirage
#4
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 08:23:54 PM EDT, Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Yes, you are right. Libertarianism is indeed a part of overall morality. But it is certainly distinguishable from the rest of morality.
The color red is indeed a color. But, surely, it is distinguishable from the other colors. Suppose I were a scientist and wanted to study only the red color. Would you criticize me for not, also, studying the other colors? Of course not.
In like manner, as a libertarian I want to focus on whether or not prostitution (drugs, gambling, blackmail, labor unions, etc.) should be legal or not. I don’t, also, want to specialize in whether or not they are moral. You seem to think that for some reason I need to do the latter also. Surely, you believe in specialization and the division of labor.
I most certainly can “ignore the moral issue when it comes to prostitution, abortion, drugs, etc.”
Why do you think I can’t?
Even were this not the case, even if I did not choose to limit myself in this way, not every paper, or even every book, can discuss all important issues.
You are guilty of what you accuse me of. In your important work on GO, you never once mention things irrelevant to that, such as the morality of prostitution. You might say that the one has nothing to do with the other. That is my argument here.
We agree on 99.9% of everything in political economy. It is fun discussing with you the other 0.1%
#5
From: Mark Skousen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Legalize Prostitution — one thing thou lackest
But libertarianism is a political view, not a science!
I repeat, whenever you pass a law legalizing what most Western cultures consider immoral — such as prostitution, illicit drugs that could easily kill people when abused, alcohol use, etc. — people in the community need to emphasize an educational program to persuade, not force, people to behave better. Otherwise, the “freedom to choose” becomes the “freedom to lose.” I have copies of both books on my shelves next to each other.
#6
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 08:43:27 PM EDT, Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
I define “science” as amassing systematic knowledge. Libertarianism is thus both: a political view and also a science.
Yes, I agree with you. People do indeed “need” this. But, why am I obligated to supply it? Certainly I’m under no such obligation. Positive obligations are anathema to libertarians. Even if I were so obligated, surely I’m not obligated to do so in every paper I write, whether on this subject or not.
My mentor, Murray Rothbard, often discussed the “science of liberty.”
#7
From: Mark Skousen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Legalize Prostitution — one thing thou lackest
Dear Walter,
My argument is that you are NEVER going to be effective in your arguments for legalizing certain behavior unless you add moral suasion. By that I mean adding a voluntary educational program to discourage the use of potentially abusive drugs…..prostitution….alcoholism….etc. And I want to emphasize “voluntary.” I like the word “persuasion” because it combines liberty and a moral attitude on what is right or wrong.
Otherwise, your libertarianism is going to be viewed as “libertine.”
It’s like free speech — you have the right say what you want, and I’ll defend your right to speak freely, but that doesn’t mean I would use that kind of language, etc. You should have the right to use drugs, but that doesn’t mean I will use them — in fact, I would make the point that I don’t plan to use them.
It’s like the prophet Joshua who said, “Choose you this day whom you shall serve, but for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15)
In faith and liberty, AEIOU
Mark Skousen
Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise Chapman University
#8
On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 09:13:05 PM EDT, Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Mark:
My main goal is not to be “effective.” Yes, I’d very much like to convert the entire world to libertarianism. That would be lovely. But what really turns my crank is the pure beauty of libertarianism. I want to be the Mozart of libertarianism. I want to be true to it. I don’t want to be detracted from plumbing the depths of libertarianism by extraneous goals such as of being “effective.”
Who were the must successful libertarians? Who were the most “effective” in making mass conversions? I’d say the following: Ron Paul, Ayn Rand, Mises, Hayek, Rothbard, Friedman, Nozick.
Not a one of them attempted to be “effective” although they were. Rather, they all aimed at telling the truth with a capital T, and letting the chips fall where they may.
To me, what’s really immoral is murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, etc. Compared to these, prostitution is small potatoes indeed. I don’t think it is always immoral. Suppose it is the only way a woman can support her family. I’m not about to condemn her for this. No, I don’t think it is ideal, but I don’t think prostitution is evil either, like violations of the NAP.
Here are some of my other pubs on prostitution:
Carroll, Faelynn and Walter E. Block. 2021. “Selling sex: (more) evidence for decriminalization.” Touro Law Review; Vol. 37, Issue 3, Article 4; pp. 1155-1172; https://www.tourolaw.edu/academics/volume-37-issue-3; https://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3334&context=lawreview
Block, Walter E. 2020. “Let’s Legalize Prostitution.” April 21;
https://www.thedailybell.com/all-articles/news-analysis/lets-legalize-prostitution/
Smith, Katy and Walter E. Block. 2019. “Legalize Prostitution.” Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy; Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 351-368;
http://ssrn.com/abstract=3432179
Varricchio, Marino and Walter E. Block. 2018. “Prostitution, Essential and Incidental Aspects: A Libertarian Argument for Legalization” Acta Economica et Turistica. December, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 125-133. https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=310146; https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/aet/4/2/article-p125.xml
Block, Walter E. 2008 [1976]. Defending the Undefendable. Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute; John Stossel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJ7wFENHkc; http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2014/11/friedrich-hayek-playing-chess-with.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29; http://bit.ly/BlockDefending2; file:///C:/Users/WBlock/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/6I1PKZ08/Defending_the_Undefendable_2018_CS.pdf; https://mises.org/sites/default/files/Defending%20the%20Undefendable_2.pdf; audiobook on Amazon and Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Defending-the-Undefendable/dp/B005VFU05O and here: https://www.audible.com/pd/Defending-the-Undefendable-Audiobook/B005V1UV70; available for free here: http://mises.org/books/defending.pdf; http://LPColorado.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4c7a023fc9c237b65e459feaa&id=d38e925ad8&e=2e4a305fd0; http://mises.org/document/3490/Defending-the-Undefendable?utm_source=Ludwig%20von%20Mises%20Institute%20of%20Canada%20Daily%20List&utm_campaign=99baa4361a-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6c2fea3584-99baa4361a-209944333; Spanish translation: https://www.editorialinnisfree.com/product-page/defendiendo-lo-indefendible-walter-block; for free here: https://cdn.mises.org/Defending_the_Undefendable_2018.pdf; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pVk0S_Jwmo&t=48s
Hayek: “Looking through Defending the Undefendable made me feel that I was once more exposed to the shock therapy by which, more than fifty years ago, the late Ludwig von Mises converted me to a consistent free market position. Even now I am occasionally at first incredulous and feel that ‘this is going too far,’ but usually find in the end that you are right. Some may find it too strong a medicine, but it will still do them good even if they hate it. A real understanding of economics demands that one disabuses oneself of many dear prejudices and illusions. Popular fallacies in economics frequently express themselves in unfounded prejudices against other occupations, and in showing the falsity of these stereotypes you are doing a real service, although you will not make yourself more popular with the majority.”
#9
From: Mark Skousen
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Legalize Prostitution — one thing thou lackest
these men and one woman certainly were “effective.” They knew what they were doing. Do you think Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman just wanted to express their views in any way? No they wrote books, they did TV, they promoted their works. And they were effective. You thought you could be effective by being provocative with your book title. Same thing, my friend.
Mark Skousen
3:08 am on August 27, 2023
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Stay in the closet in your new job! It will only be for six years (assuming you’re on tenure track; if not, get a tenure track job elsewhere). Don’t make waves, even in Florida, where woke goes to die, as you’ve already seen evidence that this is no guarantee of fair treatment. Don’t publish in JLS or RAE or QJAE. Try to publish in mainstream non Austro libertarian journals. You don’t need AER or JLE. There are plenty of good B journals that can get you tenure that will be safe. And don’t challenge your pinko colleagues to public debates, one of my own flaws when I was early in my career as you now are. Also, no one ever agrees with anyone in the ancap camp 100%. If you could attack Rothbard, Hayek, or Mises or Nozick or Friedman or any other Austrian or libertarian on some minor issue, that would be great. Also, we do agree with the left on some issues. Articles supporting them would be good, if you can hold your nose. If you can make a contribution to statistics, or math-econ, that would be great. Even pedestrian econometric empirical work with no political implications would be good. Hey, find out what is the price elasticity of bananas! Or the income elasticity of shoes.
If I can be of help to you in any other way, do let me know.
I never could keep my big mouth shut. As a result, I didn’t get tenure until I was 60 years old. Had I to do this all over again, I would have followed the above advice, disgusting and unprincipled as it is.
2:40 am on July 30, 2023
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