Opinion: Why you should take a class with Walter Block

Opinion%3A+Why+you+should+take+a+class+with+Walter+Block

Nathan Fryzek

I am currently taking my third class with Walter Block and would like to spread the word about why you should take one of his classes.

First of all, professor Block has now published hundreds of articles in peer reviewed academic journals. This quantity of scholarship is an unprecedented achievement.

In addition, he has used his expertise to help publish around 100 student papers. Publishing a paper as an undergraduate is extremely rare and looks quite good on a resume.

But the main reason I am recommending taking a class with him is that they are just so darn fun. You are almost guaranteed to laugh at least once per class period. I have never felt it a burden to come to class and, in fact, have found it the high point of my days at Loyola.

Even if you aren’t an economics major, I would encourage you to take an introductory course with him to dip your feet into the pond of economics.

Walter Block has not been without controversy, but I have found that the attacks against him have been unfounded. As an anarchist, he is indeed full of hatred, but he is hateful toward the state and nothing else. His unique views spice up classroom discussions and makes them far more interesting and interactive than many classroom discussions are. He loves his job and is excited to teach each day. He always seems to enjoy answering questions, even, or maybe especially with those with opposing views.

If you are opposed to anarchism, you might consider taking his course to sharpen your own perspective, or just to get out of your own ideological bubble to converse and listen to someone with whom you disagree. Who knows, he might even convince you he’s right!

I’ve taken professor Block for labor economics, environmental economics, as well as for economics and Catholic social thought. In his courses, I learned a great deal and, in two courses, I contributed to or wrote a paper that eventually got published in an academic journal. Block also teaches a course on the principles of microeconomics. This is the very first course to be taken in economics, and I’d recommend it to everyone.

I would say though that a course with Block might be especially enriching for those with an interest in politics or economics. Walter Block is a great professor and to see him courses less than fully registered for drove me to try and get the word out. I hope next semester is different!