The oxford dictionary defines anarchism as “belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.” Therefore, philosophical anarchism is a form of political philosophy which rejects all types of hierarchy and authority not just states or governments. However, there are a number of problems with philosophical anarchism. Firstly, the most prominent argument is the impracticality, whereby people need the state or a government in order to survive. With the main assumption that without laws and regulations there would be chaos and disorder. Secondly, it is argued that human beings by nature or socialisation are egocentric, uncooperative and lazy. Hence, the basis that philosophical anarchism is dependent on participation means nothing would ever be achieved and would result in total disorder. Thirdly, the problem with crime and punishment. Anarchists such as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argue that ‘property is theft!’ Consequently, without property he believes that crime would just disappear. This does not provide a sufficient enough reason for the end of crime and offers no form of punishment when crimes are committed. Finally, the historical examples of ‘anarchist communities’ have all been met with violence and essentially the end of the society, for example, the Free Territory (1918-1921). Within this essay I will argue that there are a number of problems with philosophical anarchism and that it is at best a critique of the modern system (a capitalist state) offerings no viable alternative.
The word anarchy comes from the Greek: an (without/the absence of) archos (ruler/chief/authority/leader.) Anarchists claim that social stability is ach...
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... of the revolution and perhaps is the main reason for the absence of a functioning stateless society.
Works Cited
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. No Gods, No Masters: An Anthology of Anarchism. Edited by Daniel Guerin, translated by Paul Sharkey. 2005.
Mikhail Bakunin, Bakunin on Anarchy, (1848) translated and edited by Sam Dolgoff, 1971. (p.338)
Bertrand Russell, "Can the Anarchists Really Do Without Some Form of the State?'' in Leonard Krimerman and Lewis Parry, eds., Patterns of Anarchy (Garden City: Doubleday, 1965). (p.494.)
Karl Marx, "Letter to J. B. Schweizer", from Marx Engels Selected Works, Volume 2, first published in Der Social-Demokrat, Nos. 16, 17 and 18, February 1, 3 and 5, (1865)
Diego Abad de Santillan, After the Revolution, p. 86.
Marx to Engels Correspondence 1883, Frederick Engels, Engels to Philipp Van Pattern in New York, London, (1883)
In the early 20th century, the Progressive Era would dominate for nearbly two decades in the United States and its system. This Progressive Era would be a result of Anarchism. Anarchy actions would take over in the U.S. ,and Anarchism would arrive in the nation, in 1901 during the attempted assassination of President McKinley. Little did they know the assassin’s name would be Leon Czolgosz, who investigators would later discover that Czolgosz would be apart of anarchism. Anarchy propagated the idea that governments and laws only served to restrict the freedom of individuals, and prevented them from practicing their own liberty; therefore this anarchists would act with violence in order to reform or shape the system differently. “Anarchist violence had claimed the pro-business president of the U.S. Worse, anarchism represented only the tip of
Marx, Karl & Friedrich Engels. 2008 (1848). The Communist Manifesto. Introduction by David Harvey. London: Pluto Press. ISBN: 978-0745328461
When one thinks of Anarchy they will immediately think of destruction and chaos. Of course, one who knows the beliefs of Anarchy will know otherwise. Anarchism is a political philosophy that upholds the belief that no one should be able to coerce anyone and no society should contain a wide variety of groups who coordinate social functions. It is the opportunity to live the life that you decide is best for you. In the eyes of Anarchy, government is corrupt and the people of society should govern themselves. There should not be any rules, laws, or police officers to chastise or enforce anything on any individual. Anyone who knows Greek will know that the term Anarchy means no rulers; so an anarchist society is a society without rulers, not a chaotic society. Anarchy believes in liberty, solidarity, and equality.
Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. "The Communist Manifesto." The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: Norton, 2001. 769-773.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, Samuel Moore, and David McLellan. The Communist Manifesto. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. Print.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader . 2d ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.
The focus of this paper will be on criticizing the argument. He effectively explains what justifies the authority of the state by giving reasons that anarchy is better for autonomous nature of man. One might agree that the state can command an individual to obey the rule even if it is against the person’s moral beliefs. His argument, however, seems to undermine the
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Trans. Paul M. Sweeny. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1998.
Bender, Frederic L. Karl Marx: The Communist Manifesto. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. ed. 1988.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker. The Marx-Engels reader. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1978. Print.
The Web. The Web. 15 Apr. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels.
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. "The German Ideology." The Marx-Engels Reader. Ed. Robert C. Tucker. New York: Norton, 1978. 146-200. Print
The root of the word anarchism comes from the Greek word anarchos, which means without ruler. The main philosophy behind anarchism is that people can reside in an unregulated community with no real authority and maintain a sustainable life. Anarchists see government and capitalism as an institution that creates liberty for the rich and enslavement of the masses. Emma Goldman best describes anarchism as: The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; the theory that all forms of government rest on violence and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary. With anarchism there is a belief that once all government is abolished by the people that everyone will come together in a community of mutual aid and understanding without laws or authority to direct.
Friedrich Engels, “The condition of the Working Class in England,” (London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1892), pp. 45, 48-53.
Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. "The Communist Manifesto." The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: Norton, 2001. 769-773.