—–Original Message—–
From: BA
Sent: Sat 10/15/2016 2:22 PM
To: wblock@loyno.edu
Subject: Thanks for all your work
Dear Mr. Block, I just want to thank you for your uncompromising work toward a free society. I think I’ve read all your work and I continue to read LRC for your blogs. If nothing else they confirm my anarcho-capitalist views. I wish I had time to write stuff like this – i might shortly. We met – although I’m not sure you remember – twice. In 1989 and in 1992. First time I think in New York and second time possibly in Las Vegas. You signed my books ;o) I am from Europe but now live in the US (Texas). I studied with Israel Kirzner in 1989-90 _New York) and Rothbard (Las Vegas) 1990-91. I wrote a few papers on the Austrian theory. I wrote a lot of popular news articles based on the same. In my native language …. Danish. The last 20
years I have just done business but in personal views I never moved. I have a question in mind though. I have been following LRC for a long time. A lot of people refers to anarcho-capitalism as a “political philosophy”. Well to me it’s not only economic or political philosophy but
much more a philosophy of life. Wouldn’t that be more correct.? Thanks again. BA
Dear BA: Thanks for your kind comments. I’m delighted to meet, again, a fellow Rothbardian. No, I don’t think libertarianism is a philosophy of life. That sort of enterprise would ask things like: “What should I be when I grow up?” “What is the best way to live?” “Should I pray to God?” “Should I become a doctor, a lawyer or an economist?” “Should I play chess or checkers?” “Should I get married?” “Should I have children?” Libertarianism, in contrast, in my view, focuses on only a small part, a very small of these “life” questions; namely, what is the proper use of violence? It gives one and only one answer: It is illicit, and a violation of rights, to initiate violence; force or the threat of force may only properly be used in defense, or to punish criminals. I suggest the following readings on this libertarian philosophy of ours:
Albright, 2013; Bergland, 1986; Block, 2008, 2013; Guenzl, 2016; Hoppe, 1993; Huebert, 2010; Narveson,1988; Nozick, 1974; Rockwell, 2014; Rothbard, 1973, 1978; Woods, 2013; Woolridge, 1970
Albright, Logan. 2013. “Libertarianism in One Sentence.” November 22;
http://mises.ca/posts/blog/libertarianism-in-one-sentence/?utm_source=Ludwig+von+Mises+Institute+of+Canada+Daily+List&utm_campaign=6c4f4db8fe-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6c2fea3584-6c4f4db8fe-209944333#comments
Bergland, David. 1986. Libertarianism In One Lesson. Orpheus Publications.
Block, Walter E. 2008 [1976]. Defending the Undefendable. Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute; available for free here: http://mises.org/books/defending.pdf
Block, Walter E. 2013. Defending the Undefendable II: Freedom in all realms; Terra Libertas Publishing House; isbn: http://store.mises.org/Defending-the-Undefendable-2-P10932.aspx;
Guenzl, Simon. 2016. Mythbusting: The Realities and Moralities of Statism and Libertarianism.
Hazlitt, Henry. 2008 [1946]. Economics in One Lesson. Auburn, AL: Mises Institute;
http://mises.org/books/economics_in_one_lesson_hazlitt.pdf
Hoppe, Hans-Hermann. 1993. The Economics and Ethics of Private Property: Studies in Political Economy and Philosophy, Boston: Kluwer
Huebert, Jacob. 2010. Libertarianism Today. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger
(Block, Walter E. 2010. “Review of Huebert’s Libertarianism Today,” Libertarian Papers,
http://libertarianpapers.org/2010/19-block-review-of-hueberts-libertarianism-today/)
Narveson, Jan. 1988. The Libertarian Idea. Philadelphia: Temple University Press
Nozick, Robert. 1974. Anarchy, State and Utopia, New York: Basic Books
Rand, Ayn. 1957. Atlas Shrugged, New York, NY: Random House.
Rockwell, Jr., Llewellyn H. 2014. “What Libertarianism Is, and Isn’t.” March 31;
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/03/lew-rockwell/what-libertarianism-is-and-isnt/
Rothbard, Murray N. 1973. For a New Liberty, Macmillan, New York; http://www.mises.org/rothbard/newliberty.asp
Rothbard, Murray N. 1998 [1982]. The Ethics of Liberty, New York: New York University Press. http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/ethics.asp
Woods, Tom. 2013. “The Question Libertarians Just Can’t Answer.” June 5;
https://archive.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods237.html
Woolridge, William C. 1970. Uncle Sam the Monopoly Man, New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House
3:38 pm on October 15, 2016 Email Walter E. Block
