The Non-Aggression Principle
From: E
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2018 1:23 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: History of the Non-Aggression Principle
Hello Dr. Block, I’m writing to send you my manuscript, “Towards a History of the Non-Aggression Principle” (attached). It traces the history of the non-aggression principle back to ancient Egypt. You are a leading advocate of the NAP, and I would greatly appreciate any critical comments on content and structure to improve the manuscript before submission. I know this is a lot to ask, but you’re the ideal person to ask. I totally understand if you’re too busy. Keep up the great work. Thanks So Much, E
Dear E: This statement of yours is a good first approximation; a very good one:
“The non-aggression principle states: never use violence against the person and property of a non-violent human being.”
But, I think it is more accurate to see the NAP in terms on punishment or retaliation: “if someone uses violence against the person and property of a non-violent human being, it would be justified to stop or punish him”
I use the “Martian threat” example below to illustrate this.
Block, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011
Block, Walter E. 2001. “Jonah Goldberg and the Libertarian Axiom on Non-Aggression.”
June 28; http://archive.lewrockwell.com/orig/block1.html
Block, Walter E. 2002. “Radical Privatization and other Libertarian Conundrums,” The International Journal of Politics and Ethics, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 165-175; http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/radical_privatization.pdf (murder park)
Block, Walter E. 2003. “The Non-Aggression Axiom of Libertarianism,” February 17; http://archive.lewrockwell.com/block/block26.html
Block, Walter E. 2004. “Radical Libertarianism: Applying Libertarian Principles to Dealing with the Unjust Government, Part I” Reason Papers, Vol. 27, Fall, pp. 117-133;
http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf
Block, Walter E. 2006. “Radical Libertarianism: Applying Libertarian Principles to Dealing with the Unjust Government, Part II” Reason Papers, Vol. 28, Spring, pp. 85-109; http://www.walterblock.com/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf; http://www.walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/block_radical-libertarianism-rp.pdf; http://www.reasonpapers.com/pdf/28/rp_28_7.pdf; (death penalty justified, net taxpayer, ruling class analysis p. 87)
Block, Walter E. 2010. “Response to Jakobsson on human body shields.” Libertarian Papers. http://libertarianpapers.org/articles/2010/lp-2-25.pdf
Block, Walter E. 2011. “The Human Body Shield,” Journal of Libertarian Studies; Vol. 22, pp. 625-630; http://mises.org/journals/jls/22_1/22_1_30.pdf
1:53 pm on April 1, 2018
