Abstract

Abstract I address Walter Block’s recent criticisms of my book, Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism. Methodologically, Block relies too much on appeals to contentious and extreme assumptions. Substantively, most of his objections are irrelevant to the central issue of the book. Those that are relevant turn on false assumptions or lead to absurd consequences. In the end, Block’s claim to oppose suffering cannot be reconciled with his indifference to a practice that probably causes, every few years, more suffering than all the suffering in human history.

Highlights

  • In a recent issue of Studia Humana, economist Walter Block has advanced a spirited critique of my book, Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism.[1]

  • Block raises a dizzying array of objections, too numerous and varied for me to address all of them here

  • I have in mind where Block advocates legalizing insider trading [1, p. 60], criticizes my use of “them” [1, p. 60], discusses ending trade with China [1, p. 58], and so on

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Summary

Introduction

In a recent issue of Studia Humana, economist Walter Block has advanced a spirited critique of my book, Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism.[1] Block raises a dizzying array of objections, too numerous and varied for me to address all of them here. Many of them are beside the point of my book. I have in mind where Block advocates legalizing insider trading [1, p. 60], criticizes my use of “them” [1, p. 60], discusses ending trade with China [1, p. I shall critique Block’s philosophical methodology, address some of Block’s more relevant objections, conclude by examining Block’s view of the evil of suffering

The Argument from Libertarianism
Extremism
Objections to the Case for Ethical Veganism
Reductio of the Risk Argument
Shutting Down Modern Society
Opposing Suffering

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