In this 2008 lecture at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, economist Walter Block delivers a defense of libertarian philosophy.
He outlines its core principles—the non-aggression axiom and private property rights rooted in homesteading—and applies them to various controversial issues, including blackmail, libel, insider trading, incitement, antitrust, hostile takeovers, the exclusionary rule, affirmative action, unions, drug legalization, poverty, and the death penalty. With wit, Block argues that free enterprise and individual liberty offer solutions to societal issues often exacerbated by government intervention.
This lecture, sparked by a discussion with Judge Dean John Carol, offers a concise yet wide-ranging exploration of the implications of libertarianism, making it a good watch for those interested in economics, law, and individual freedom.
Watch the lecture below or on YouTube:
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Samford University, a fine institution in Alabama, hosts an excellent law school. In a law school ranking I made in 2023 in a James G. Martin Center essay, I ranked Samford’s Cumberland at #5 in the US. It’s no coincidence that it also hosts a “Statement of Faith.” In my view the southern law schools generally outperform those in the north. https://jamesgmartin.center/2023/01/a-new-way-to-rank-law-schools/