Walter Block and the provocative economics of defending the indefensible
In short: Walter Block is a prominent Austrian school economist known for challenging conventional morality through a strictly libertarian lens. His work often explores the boundaries of property rights and individual autonomy, leading to controversial arguments that have sparked intense academic debate and public scrutiny throughout his long career in higher education.
Born in Brooklyn in 1941, Walter Block underwent a significant ideological transformation during his youth. Once describing himself as a communist, he shifted toward libertarianism after encountering the works of Ayn Rand and later the influence of Murray Rothbard. This intellectual journey led him to earn a philosophy degree from Brooklyn College in 1964 and a doctorate in economics from Columbia University in 1972. Today, he serves as the Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Chair in Economics at Loyola University New Orleans.
Block gained widespread attention with his 1976 book, Defending the Undefendable. The text applies economic reasoning to behaviors typically viewed as social taboos, aiming to demonstrate how free-market principles can illuminate aspects of human interaction that common sense often ignores. His prolific output includes over two dozen books and hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, covering topics ranging from the privatization of space travel to the legal status of blackmail. His academic influence extends to his students, many of whom have published their own research in scholarly journals.
His career has not been without significant controversy. Block has argued that a consistent libertarian framework would theoretically permit voluntary self-enslavement, a position that drew sharp criticism and accusations of insensitivity regarding the history of American slavery. While he maintains that slavery is inherently monstrous because it is involuntary and violates the non-aggression principle, his provocative style has led to public rebukes from university leadership and intense media scrutiny. His assertions regarding productivity gaps between demographic groups have similarly faced rigorous pushback from peers and the public.
Ultimately, Block remains a polarizing figure who uses economic theory to push the limits of libertarian thought. Whether discussing the privatization of public resources or the ethics of individual choice, his work forces a confrontation between abstract economic logic and deeply held societal values. His career illustrates the friction that occurs when academic theory is applied to the most sensitive areas of human history and social organization.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Walter Block | Loyola University New Orleans
- Also: Walter Block
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