≡ Menu

Hülsmann on Argumentation Ethics

From the Mises blog, Nov. 25, 2009

(Archived comments below)

I’ve done a good deal of writing on Hoppe’s argumentation ethics defense of libertarian rights and related matters (see Revisiting Argumentation Ethics, Mises and Argumentation Ethics). I was reminded recently of Guido Hülsmann’s superb and unique presentation of argumentation ethics in his paper “The A Priori Foundations of Property Economics,” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 7, no. 4 (Winter 2004), in particular the section “The Foundations of Property Economics,” starting on p. 50. It’s really an excellent take on this, and has a fantastic discussion of the nature of appropriation, including his “Counterfactual Analysis of Appropriation.” Highly recommended for those interested in argumentation ethics.

In his paper, Hülsmann draws on the work of both Reinach and Hoppe. The paper was based on a presentation at a symposium on “Austrian Law and Economics: The Contributions of Reinach and Rothbard” held at the Ludwig von Mises Institute on March 29-30, 2001, papers resulting from which were published in Vol. 7, no. 4 (Winter 2004) of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. The late Larry Sechrest also presented a paper, Praxeology, Economics, and Law: Issues and Implications, which also discusses argumentation ethics at pp. 36-38. For further information on Reinach’s writings, see Adolf Reinach’s “The Apriori Foundations of the Civil Law” and “On The Concept of Causality in the Criminal Law,” by Adolf Reinach. For additional material on argumentation ethics, see Revisiting Argumentation Ethics.

Archived comments:

{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }

HL November 25, 2009 at 12:33 pm

He also slaps Coase around real nice. I could almost see him smiling while writing it.

REPLY

AJ November 25, 2009 at 2:49 pm

Hulsmann drops the ball here:

“The settling of conflict requires some form of communication and argument. But arguing would be
senseless if it could not change the opinions and actions of others. The point is precisely that we want our discussion partners to think and act differently. We acknowledge that they have control over their wills and bodies, and moreover we want them to exercise this control. In other words, in any exchange of argument, all discussion partners agree at least on two things: (1) that each of them is the factual owner of his will and body, and (2) that each of them should exercise this control.”

We may want them to exercise that control *given that they have it*, but that does not mean we agree that they “should” have such control in the first place. Hulsmann cooks up a normative statement out of nothing.

REPLY

HL November 25, 2009 at 4:36 pm

We may want them to exercise that control *given that they have it*, but that does not mean we agree that they “should” have such control in the first place. Hulsmann cooks up a normative statement out of nothing.

Uh, isn’t that kind of the point?

REPLY

Fourier November 25, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Talk about an uncharitable (and wrong) reading of Coase.

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 25, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Fourier = [bad word]

REPLY

newson November 25, 2009 at 7:06 pm

one-liners are the white noise of blogs.

REPLY

newson November 25, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Vol. 7, no. 4 (Winter 2004) of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics.

this link doesn’t work

REPLY

Fourier November 25, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Good job Guido. You think Coase doesn’t understand that value is subjective.

Only the Austrians ever realised that! (Except those that realised it too much — like Hayek, he was wrong too).

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 26, 2009 at 6:57 am

How nice of Fourier to [DELETED] share his wisdom here.

REPLY

Gregory House MD November 26, 2009 at 9:02 am

Don’t you have [DELETED]

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 26, 2009 at 9:24 am

[DELETED]

REPLY

Mandlebrot November 26, 2009 at 3:26 pm

My first visit to the Mises blog. Hoping this discussion isn’t representative of the normal level of dialogue here.

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 26, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Mandelbrot, when Fourier’s involved, it is.

REPLY

Fourier November 26, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Beefcake thinks he’s doing economics. Poor him, if only he read something other than A Theory of Socialism and Capitalism.

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 26, 2009 at 7:29 pm

Fourier is [DELETED]

REPLY

Inquisitor November 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Actually dear Fourier, he is doing economics. You on the other hand… econostrology? Maybe.

REPLY

Fourier November 28, 2009 at 7:14 am

[DELETED]

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 28, 2009 at 8:05 am

Fourier [DELETED]

REPLY

Fourier November 28, 2009 at 9:15 am

Inquisitioner, what type of economics is he doing? My history of thought of this area is bad. But it seems to me that he’s doing insulticism[DELETED]

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 28, 2009 at 9:49 am

Fourier, [DELETED]

REPLY

Fourier November 28, 2009 at 10:08 am

[DELETED]

REPLY

Beefcake the Mighty November 28, 2009 at 2:20 pm

[DELETED]

REPLY

Fourier November 28, 2009 at 2:59 pm

[DELETED]

REPLY

Inquisitor November 28, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Economics of planned economies. But you knew that, didn’t you? Or no wait you probably didn’t because you’re a clueless troll. Also, l2read, it’s Inquisitor.

REPLY

Fourier November 29, 2009 at 9:51 am

Inquisitioner, who are you? What are you doing here?

Why are you preaching Hellsmennian Irrelevanticism and Hoppean Insulticism.

REPLY

Stephan Kinsella December 6, 2009 at 9:54 am

Per Mises policy (comments should be intelligent and civil) many of the posts above have been deleted or redacted, for containing inappropriate defamatory comments or sexual preference related insults. Those who continue to defame will be banned.

REPLY

Lord Buzunghulus, Bringer of the Orange Light December 6, 2009 at 11:52 am

Shouldn’t ALL of Fouriers posts be deleted? He’s just trying to be insulting.

REPLY

Stephan Kinsella December 6, 2009 at 6:52 pm

Lord B, why did your light change hue? What is up?

REPLY

Lord Buzungulus, Bringer of the Purple Light December 6, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Stephan,

It’s a seasonal mutation I go through. In truth, I prefer the purple light, so I’ve gone back to it. I may, however, change my title from Lord to Pope. Still thinking about it.

REPLY

newson December 6, 2009 at 10:04 pm

you’re safer with “lord”. pope’s have been fond of proffering the ring for kissing.

but more importantly, this link still doesn’t work!

Vol. 7, no. 4 (Winter 2004) of the Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics.

REPLY

newson December 6, 2009 at 10:17 pm

[bad word]? isn’t that a tad too quaint?

REPLY

Share
{ 1 comment… add one }

Leave a Reply

© 2012-2024 StephanKinsella.com CC0 To the extent possible under law, Stephan Kinsella has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to material on this Site, unless indicated otherwise. In the event the CC0 license is unenforceable a  Creative Commons License Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License is hereby granted.

-- Copyright notice by Blog Copyright