The following email exchange took place between Michael Edelstein and Walter Block:
Michael R. Edelstein <DrEdelstein@threeminutetherapy.com>
to Walter Block
Sbject: The Hoppe View
Walter,
In this article, Hoppe refers to us (not by name) as “left-libertarians”:
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/07/hans-hermann-hoppe/open-borders-2/
Does he think of himself as a plumb-line libertarian?
---
Walter Block <walterblock@business.loyno.edu>
to: "Michael R. Edelstein
I guess so.
Here, I call him a right wing libertarian:
Block, Walter E. 2010. “Libertarianism is unique; it belongs neither to the right nor the left: a critique of the views of Long, Holcombe, and Baden on the left, Hoppe, Feser and Paul on the right.” Journal of Libertarian Studies; Vol. 22: 127–70; http://mises.org/journals/jls/22_1/22_1_8.pdf; http://www.mises.org/journals/scholar/block15.pdf; https://mises.org/library/libertarianism-unique-and-belongs-neither-right-nor-left-critique-views-long-holcombe-and
Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Joseph A. Butt, S.J. College of Business
Loyola University New Orleans
I thought we were PAST all that "left - right" stuff?
ReplyDeleteBut then again, I can never remember what "thick" and "thin" are supposed to mean.
Thick means you attempt to bundle other goals than non-aggression into your "libertarianism." Which is impossible because inevitably there is some conflict, then what. Presumably aggression is used to achieve those other goals though thickists always avoid answering this question.
DeleteThin means non-aggression only and always. Only thin is genuine libertarianism.
Hoppe rides fast and loose with various principles in his article, not looking at the presumptions he's allowing into his reasoning. Disappointing given his solid contributions elsewhere. In other articles Block uses basic principles to methodically shred Hoppe's position on immigration.
DeleteWe aren't libertarians. We're liberals. Left and Right are just two factions of Big Government. Liberals are Small Governnent and anarchists are fools.
ReplyDeleteIf you are aren't an anarchist, you're a statist, Snoop-dogg. Look up the meaning of the words. And by all means, defend minarchism. Look forward to the entertainment of you attempting to justify aggression.
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