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	'''''Defending the Undefendable''''' is a 1976 book by American economist ].<ref>Walter Block, book reprint, ], 2008 version.</ref> It has been translated into ten foreign languages.<ref> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123011315/http://www.business.loyno.edu/bio/walter-block \|date=2013-11-23 }}, ], ''accessed July 31, 2013.''</ref> The book advances the thesis that various people are stigmatized for engaging in acts that are often illegal or disreputable yet do not involve ]. Block further proposes these people may in fact benefit society. Each chapter examines a different type of person, including ]s, ]ers, ]s and ]ers.		'''''Defending the Undefendable''''' is a 1976 book by American economist ].<ref>Walter Block, {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628100513/http://mises.org/books/defending.pdf \|date=2014-06-28 }} book reprint, ], 2008 version.</ref> It has been translated into ten foreign languages.<ref> {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123011315/http://www.business.loyno.edu/bio/walter-block \|date=2013-11-23 }}, ], ''accessed July 31, 2013.''</ref> The book advances the thesis that various people are stigmatized for engaging in acts that are often illegal or disreputable yet do not involve ]. Block further proposes these people may in fact benefit society. Each chapter examines a different type of person, including ]s, ]ers, ]s and ]ers.

	The original edition included illustrations by ] and a foreword from ], with commentary provided by ].		The original edition included illustrations by ] and a foreword from ], with commentary provided by ].
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	==Reception==		==Reception==
	Economist ] thought that by emphasizing marginal scenarios, ''Defending the Undefendable'' "does far more to demonstrate the workability and morality of the ] than a dozen sober tomes on more respectable industries and activities. By testing and proving the extreme cases, he all the more illustrates and vindicates the theory."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web\|url=https://mises.org/library/defending-undefendable\|title=Defending the Undefendable\|date=August 18, 2014\|website=Mises Institute}}</ref>		Economist ] thought that by emphasizing marginal scenarios, ''Defending the Undefendable'' "does far more to demonstrate the workability and morality of the ] than a dozen sober tomes on more respectable industries and activities. By testing and proving the extreme cases, he all the more illustrates and vindicates the theory."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web\|url=https://mises.org/library/defending-undefendable\|title=Defending the Undefendable\|date=August 18, 2014\|website=Mises Institute\|access-date=August 21, 2017\|archive-date=September 13, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913051841/https://mises.org/library/defending-undefendable\|url-status=live}}</ref>

	Libertarian activist ] had a more mixed/critical take, agreeing with large parts of it but calling it "a bizarre combination of both excellent and horrible elements". She offered some praise for its "valid economic and political analysis” but also criticised its "sensationalistic style", several instances of "faulty logic", and its overly "mechanistic and insensitive view of human behavior". She feared it might ultimately act to discredit the ideas it was meant to promote, concluding that it is "a positive menace to the libertarian movement and dramatically demonstrates ] statement that the worst enemies of capitalism are its defenders."<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Presley \|first1=Sharon \|title=Defending the Undefendable \|url=https://reason.com/1977/02/01/defending-the-undefendable/ \|accessdate=7 September 2020 \|work=Reason \|issue=February 1977}}</ref>		Libertarian activist ] had a more mixed/critical take, agreeing with large parts of it but calling it "a bizarre combination of both excellent and horrible elements". She offered some praise for its "valid economic and political analysis” but also criticised its "sensationalistic style", several instances of "faulty logic", and its overly "mechanistic and insensitive view of human behavior". She feared it might ultimately act to discredit the ideas it was meant to promote, concluding that it is "a positive menace to the libertarian movement and dramatically demonstrates ] statement that the worst enemies of capitalism are its defenders."<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Presley \|first1=Sharon \|title=Defending the Undefendable \|url=https://reason.com/1977/02/01/defending-the-undefendable/ \|accessdate=7 September 2020 \|work=Reason \|issue=February 1977 \|archive-date=19 September 2020 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919071013/https://reason.com/1977/02/01/defending-the-undefendable/ \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	Cable news pundit ] said of it, "Defending the Undefendable... opened my eyes to the beauties of ]. It explains that so much of what is assumed to be evil – is not."<ref>'']'', December 2006, p. 37.</ref> In 2011, writing that economics "illuminates what common sense overlooks", Stossel called the book "eye-opening" and detailed its contents.<ref>], , ], August 25, 2011.</ref>		Cable news pundit ] said of it, "Defending the Undefendable... opened my eyes to the beauties of ]. It explains that so much of what is assumed to be evil – is not."<ref>'']'', December 2006, p. 37.</ref> In 2011, writing that economics "illuminates what common sense overlooks", Stossel called the book "eye-opening" and detailed its contents.<ref>], {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702113323/http://reason.com/archives/2011/08/25/almost-everything-were-taught \|date=2017-07-02 }}, ], August 25, 2011.</ref>

	The philosopher ], who generally shared Block's libertarian leanings, wrote that the book "defends some of the silliest ideas in support of an essentially good cause... He raises some stimulating issues, even if in an intellectually inadequate fashion."<ref name="auto"/>		The philosopher ], who generally shared Block's libertarian leanings, wrote that the book "defends some of the silliest ideas in support of an essentially good cause... He raises some stimulating issues, even if in an intellectually inadequate fashion."<ref name="auto"/>

Latest revision as of 17:28, 29 April 2024

1976 book by Walter Block

Defending the Undefendable
First edition
Author	Walter Block
Language	English
Subject	Moral philosophy, political economy
Publisher	Fleet Press
Publication date	1976
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Paperback)
Pages	256
ISBN	9781933550176
OCLC	248638106
Dewey Decimal	973.925
LC Class	HB95 .B58
Followed by	Defending the Undefendable II: Freedom in All Realms
Text	Defending the Undefendable at Ludwig von Mises Institute

Defending the Undefendable is a 1976 book by American economist Walter Block. It has been translated into ten foreign languages. The book advances the thesis that various people are stigmatized for engaging in acts that are often illegal or disreputable yet do not involve violence or violation of property. Block further proposes these people may in fact benefit society. Each chapter examines a different type of person, including prostitutes, blackmailers, misers and litterers.

The original edition included illustrations by Charles Rodrigues and a foreword from Murray Rothbard, with commentary provided by F. A. Hayek.

The book's 2013 sequel, Defending the Undefendable II: Freedom in All Realms, included a foreword by Ron Paul.

Reception

Economist Murray Rothbard thought that by emphasizing marginal scenarios, Defending the Undefendable "does far more to demonstrate the workability and morality of the free market than a dozen sober tomes on more respectable industries and activities. By testing and proving the extreme cases, he all the more illustrates and vindicates the theory."

Libertarian activist Sharon Presley had a more mixed/critical take, agreeing with large parts of it but calling it "a bizarre combination of both excellent and horrible elements". She offered some praise for its "valid economic and political analysis” but also criticised its "sensationalistic style", several instances of "faulty logic", and its overly "mechanistic and insensitive view of human behavior". She feared it might ultimately act to discredit the ideas it was meant to promote, concluding that it is "a positive menace to the libertarian movement and dramatically demonstrates Rand's statement that the worst enemies of capitalism are its defenders."

Cable news pundit John Stossel said of it, "Defending the Undefendable... opened my eyes to the beauties of libertarianism. It explains that so much of what is assumed to be evil – is not." In 2011, writing that economics "illuminates what common sense overlooks", Stossel called the book "eye-opening" and detailed its contents.

The philosopher Tibor Machan, who generally shared Block's libertarian leanings, wrote that the book "defends some of the silliest ideas in support of an essentially good cause... He raises some stimulating issues, even if in an intellectually inadequate fashion."