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
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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
