From: Walter Block <[email protected]>

Sent: Friday, July 24, 2020 12:26 PM

To: ‘Rod Peet’ <[email protected]>; ‘Rozeff, Michael’ <[email protected]>

Subject: RE: Social utility

Dear Rod:

I don’t know what a “band” is, and a military organization is not usually voluntary. However, the golf club, the tennis club, are certainly voluntary organizations, very different than “society.”

Best regards,

Walter

From: Rod Peet

Sent: Friday, July 24, 2020 9:47 AM

To: Rozeff, Michael, Walter Block <[email protected]>

Subject: Social utility

Dear Dr.s Rozeff and Block,

I am learning much from your discussion of social utility.

I have a question. It may have been answered already. If so I have overlooked it. Isn’t there an important difference between a band or military organization and society that needs to be considered? That is that one is voluntary and the other is not. I can see how a band, or any voluntary subset of society, can make a decision even if members don’t agree with it. I don’t see how society can.

A band, for example, is something that is conceived prior to its creation. Leaders are chosen, rules are established and potential members are invited to apply. There are requirements to join and standards to be met. Members can leave if they don’t like it.

Society, on the other hand, is an accident. Members are born into it, like it or not. They cannot leave. It is necessary for survival.

Any help in thinking about this would be appreciated.

Regards,

Rod

The Best of Walter E. Block