From: N
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2017 11:34 AM
To: Walter Block
Subject: quick note re: “On the Benefits of Proper Intellectual Debate”
Dear Dr. Block- I just wanted to write you a brief note of support in encouraging libertarians to “never take umbrage at authors of objections to their views who do so in a polite manner”. I posted a similar comment on a prominent libertarian website last year, hoping that as libertarians we could give each other the benefit of the doubt and latitude in debate, keeping things respectful/polite especially in regard to other libertarians, so that debate is constructive.

It seems there is a tendency at times for some people to “name call” other libertarians that have differing views and my belief is that this labeling interferes with legitimate debate at times. For example, if I suggest a self identified libertarian is a communist for example(and he might be!), and he takes offense, will he actually ever understand my argument as to why I might label him such? It’s a difficult area with shades of gray(to me)- but rarely, when I label someone(or name call) in the course of debate, does it ever seem to result in a positive exchange or changed minds. So let me second your call to polite debate and it’s efficacy! (and let the debate begin on the distinction between labeling and name calling begin and when it’s appropriate to do either!) I can’t thank you enough for the massive contributions you’ve made to libertarianism in general, even though I disagree with small percentage of your viewpoints in certain areas. I still consider you a “brother in arms”. Best, N

Dear N: How DARE you disagree with me on a “small percentage of (my) viewpoints.” Don’t you realize I’m Jewish, and that thus any disagreement with me constitutes anti-Semitism, of which there is no worse sin?

On a more serious note, thanks for your lovely letter. I am delighted with your support. We cannot underestimate the importance of civil disagreement among Austro-libertarians, and, even, between us and our intellectual enemies, both of the left and of the right.

Here is yet one more example of a debate in which I partook. In rereading this, I wish I had been more civil. Ah, well, we all err; the first drafts of my contributions were even worse in this regard:

Block, 1977, 1995, 2000; Demsetz, 1979, 1997

1. Block, Walter E. 1977. “Coase and Demsetz on Private Property Rights,” The Journal of Libertarian Studies: An Interdisciplinary Review, Vol. I, No. 2, 1977, pp. 111-115; http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/1_2/1_2_4.pdf; Translation: “Coase y Demsetz sobre el derecho de propiedad privada,” Libertas 37, octubre de 2002, año XIX, pp.5-20

2. Demsetz, Harold. 1979. “Ethics and Efficiency in Property Rights Systems,” in Time, Uncertainty and Disequilibrium: Explorations of Austrian Themes, Mario Rizzo, ed., Lexington Mass.: D.C. Heath and Co; http://mises.org/Books/timeuncertainty.pdf (see chapter 5)

3. Block, Walter E. 1995. “Ethics, Efficiency, Coasean Property Rights and Psychic Income: A Reply to Demsetz,” Review of Austrian Economics, 8 (2): 61-125, http://www.mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae8_2_4.pdf; Translation: “Ética, eficiencia, derechos de propiedad Coasianos e ingreso psíquico: una respuesta a Demsetz,” Libertas 37, octubre de 2002, año XIX, pp. 71-210

4. Demsetz, Harold. 1997. “Block’s Erroneous Interpretations,” Review of Austrian Economics, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 101-109; http://www.mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae10_2_6.pdf; Las interpretaciones erróneas de Block

5. Block, Walter E. 2000. “Private Property Rights, Erroneous Interpretations, Morality and Economics: Reply to Demsetz,” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring, pp. 63-78; http://www.mises.org/journals/qjae/pdf/qjae3_1_8.pdf; translation: “Derecho de propiedad privada, interpretaciones erróneas, moralidad y economía: en respuesta a Demsetz,” Libertas 37, octubre de 2002, año XIX, pp. 227-264

Wait. Here’s one where even now I think I was very polite:

Friedman, Milton and Walter E. Block. 2006. “Fanatical, Not Reasonable: A Short Correspondence Between Walter E. Block and Milton Friedman (on Friedrich Hayek’s Road to Serfdom).” Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. 20, No. 3, Summer, pp. 61-80; http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/20_3/20_3_4.pdf; https://mises.org/system/tdf/20_3_4.pdf?file=1&type=document

The Best of Walter E. Block