Murder Is Always A Violation of the NAP, But it is Not Always Wrong. Part V
December 24, 2019
Here is part IV.
From: J
Sent: Monday, December 23, 2019 7:52 AM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Re: Murder justified by Martian threats
Thank you for the link.
Prior to this discussion, my definition of “murder” has always been “wrongful killing,” which distinguishes such acts from justifiable homicide. Your argument that murder is not always wrong negates my longstanding definition, if your argument holds. How then would you define murder if it is not always wrong? That is, what belongs in the set of homicidal acts that the term “murder” encompasses? J
Dear J:
You make an important and correct point. Thanks.
In my view, it is murder to kill innocent person Joe. The murderer of Joe should be punished.
I discuss this in far greater detail in my defense of the libertarian Nazi concentration camp guard who murders innocent Jews, blacks, gays, Romany.
Block, Walter E. 2009. “Libertarian punishment theory: working for, and donating to, the state” Libertarian Papers, Vol. 1; http://libertarianpapers.org/articles/2009/lp-1-17.pdf; http://libertarianpapers.org/2009/17-libertarian-punishment-theory-working-for-and-donating-to-the-state/#comments
Best regards,
Walter
The Great War: The Christmas Truce of 1914