What Is Libertarianism?

From: Ronald Ayers

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 3:23 AM

To: [email protected]

Subject: opinion on ethical dilemma needed

Dear Dr. Block,

A lively discussion has recently taken place on Wonderhussy’s youtube channel regarding an ethical dilemma she is facing.

I would be grateful if you could give a libertarian perspective.

Her 30 minute video offers a full explanation. The youtube info box describes it briefly.

In a nutshell, she filmed a video of a natural feature on “public lands” (administered by BLM, I believe). However, a group went in and made changes to the feature, improving it with their labor and possibly materials. They had no government permission to do this. They asked her to kill the video so that it’s never seen by the public. They fear vandalism.

She considered their request, which means the hours of work she put into making her video of the spot will be wasted, and decided to honor it.

Her followers have their opinions, but offer no theoretical justifications for them. Some say she’s too “nice” for not showing the video. Others believe she did the right thing by keeping the location a secret by not posting the video. Vandalism on public lands of ghost towns and geological features is a problem.

Is there a libertarian principle that would apply in this situation?

Thanks for any light you can shed on this issue? In general, she keeps the locations of ghost towns, etc. a secret in her videos anyway since she’s worried about vandalism.

Ronald M. Ayers, Ph.D.

Dear Ronald:

Libertarianism is a theory of just law. It says that violence is justified, only, to protect against, or punish, a prior use of violence or a threat thereof.

It has absolutely nothing to say about whether chess is better than checkers, or football versus basketball, or Mozart vis a vis Elvis Presley. Nor, in my humble opinion, does it have any views as to whether people should be “nice,” your question to me.

It has views on public property: everything should be privatized.

I assume BLM stands for the US government’s Bureau of Land Management and not the other BLM now in the news!

Best regards,

Walter

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6:19 am on October 19, 2020