From: JWM
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2016 9:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Does Spanking Violate the Non-Aggression Principle?
This was from a while back but I watched your discussion with Stefan Molyneux and wanted to propose an argument that I think he should have used. Doesn’t spanking violate the non aggression principle simply because, as Stefan stated, the effects of spanking carry into adult life? And because you do have a moral responsibility to “keep your mitts off other adults”, it violates the principle. JWM
Dear JWM: Here is a copy of that debate: December 9, 2013. Debate: Walter Block and Stefan Molyneux, on Freedomain Radio on spanking children. http://youtu.be/EgCmoVbdYtE;
MP3: http://cdn.media.freedomainradio.com/feed/FDR_2552_Walter_Block_Debate.mp3. I think Stefan did an excellent job defending a position with which I disagree: that spanking children is a per se violation of the libertarian non-aggression principle (NAP). I don’t think he missed out on your point, although it is an interesting and important one. Yes, children will eventually become adults, and it is illicit to spank (engage in assault and battery against) mature people. But, from this it does not logically follow that it is a NAP violation to spank children (e.g., when they don’t want their diapers changed). But, nice try.
