The Anarchism

by Anna Georgieva

  Overview

  Different trends of individualist anarchism have some things in common:

  The elevation of the individual over any kind of construction or social and external reality as morality, ideology, customs, religion, metaphysics, ideas or the will of others.

  Rejection and reserves to the idea of revolution, which is sometimes considered as a mass uprising that would lead to new governments. Instead, favor a gradualist and evolutionary approach to achieve anarchy through alternative experiences and experiments that could be applied in the present. This also because it looks as desirable for individuals having to wait for the revolution to begin experimenting alternatives that are outside the movement system.

  The view that relationships with other people or things can only be freely contracted, interest in itself and can be both transitory and without compromises as desired. The experience and the individual pursuit are exalted.

  But there are also differences. With regard to the justification of anarchist-individualism, Josiah Warren used the argument of individual sovereignty and fair trade , there are adherents to mutualism as Pierre Joseph Proudhon, Benjamin Tucker), selfishness does not recognize the "natural rights" (Max Stirner ) or natural law (Lysander Spooner), neo-Lockean (Murray Rothbard), consequentialist (David Friedman), the anarchist (Renzo Novatore) and individualistic to the idea of private property (Oscar Wilde) opposition. Alternative justifications were anarchist-individualism contractarian (Jan Narveson).

  The movement individualist anarchism that is called egoism, derived from the philosophy of Max Stirner argues that individuals should do what they want, ignoring God, State or moral rule. To Stirner, rights are fallacies, reifications in mind ("spectra"), and held that society does not really exist but "individuals and their reality" and supported property by force as preferable to the moral law. Stirner advocated self-assertion and foresaw "associations of egoists" behaving together by mutual respect. Motivated by the egoism of Stirner appeared a European movement formed by marginal and called illegality gathered the idea of a obrerista anarchist sector, propaganda by deed, with the selfish philosophy, making what they called "individual expropriation" and embracing a lifestyle and justifying criminal theft.

  An important trend in movement anarchist individualism emphasizes individual subjective exploration and defiance of social conventions. In this sense, trends advocating free love and other alternative lifestyles such as naturism been popular among individualist anarchists.Free love has its origins as far back as the philosopher Josiah Warren and experimental communities, postulating that sexual freedom is a clear and direct expression of individual sovereignty. In Europe the main propagandist of free love between anarchist individualism was Emile Armand.

  Key personalities

  William Godwin

  William Godwin

  William Godwin was an individualist anarchist and a philosophical anarchist who was influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and developed what some consider the first expression of an anarchist thought. Godwin was, according to Peter Kropotkin, "the first to formulate the political and economic conception of anarchism, although he never gave that name to the ideas developed in his work." Godwin advocated extreme individualism, proposing that all cooperation in labor be eliminated. Godwin was a utilitarian who believed that not all individuals were of equal worth, and that some are "of great merit and importance than others," depending on our utility in generating social good. For Godwin the differences between people are due to the social injustices that are perpetuated by human institutions.Godwin opposed government and all authority because they violate the individual right to individual and private judgment. This aspect of the philosophy of Godwin, except for its utilitarian aspect, was further developed by Stirner. But while their positions against reason be faced, as the moral solipsism Stirner opposes the universal observance of reason and justice proposed by Godwin.

  Godwin's individualism was so radical that even opposed to working together in orchestras, writing in his An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice ( An investigation of political justice ) that "everything understood under the term cooperation is bad in some way."The only apparent exception to this opposition to cooperation is the spontaneous association that arise when society was threatened by force and violence. One reason he opposed cooperation is considered to interfere with individual capacities to promote the greater good overall. Godwin opposed the idea of government, but said that a minimum of government was needed as a "necessary evil"it would be increasingly less relevant and diluted with the development of knowledge. Was expressed as an opposition to democracy, fearing oppression of individuals by majorities (although it seemed preferable to a dictatorship).

  Godwin supported private property, defining it as "the empire to which every man is entitled as the product of his own labor."But also advocated that individuals donate each other surplus property, in case anyone should need it, proposing a gift economy , instead of trade. So while people have the right to private property, "should" give it to others as illustrated altruistic. This would be based on utilitarian principles. However, benevolence should not be forced, to be a matter concerning the sphere of "private conscience". Godwin never propose a partnership or forms of collective ownership as communism, but his belief that individuals should share with those in need was an important influence on the subsequent development of anarchist.

  Godwin's political views were diverse and are not in perfect agreement with some of the ideologies which assert their influence, writers organ Socialist Party of Great Britain, the newspaper Socialist Standard , consider Godwin both individualist and communist; historian Albert Weisbord considers an anarchist individualist without reservation. Some writers find a conflict between godwiniana defense of "private judgment" and utilitarianism, and holding that this ethics requires that individuals give their surplus property to others, resulting in an egalitarian society, but also insists that all things should be left to individual choice. According to Kropotkin suggested, views about Godwin has changed with the passing of the ages.

  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865) was the first philosopher to proclaim "anarchist." Some authors consider Proudhon as an individualist anarchist, while others see it as a corporate anarchist. Some writers do not identify Proudhon as an individualist because of their preference for large industries associations, rather than by the individual control. However, he had some influences from North American individualist, in the 1840s and 1850s, Charles A. Dana,and William B. Greene Proudhon work introduced in the United States. Greene adapted Proudhon's mutualism to American style and presented his work to Benjamin R. Tucker.

  Proudhon opposed the privileges with which the government protected the capitalist interests of banking and land rent, accumulation and acquisition of property (and all forms of coercion to obtain), who believed that hindered the competition and kept the wealth in the hands of a few.Proudhon supported the right of individuals to retain the product of labor as property, but believed that all property that was beyond anything produced by an individual and what might have to be used, was illegitimate. Thus, he saw both essential to freedom, as a path to tyranny, in the first case when private property was necessary to work and work product, and in the second case as a result of holding (gain, interest, income taxes). Generally called the first as a "possession" and the second as "property." For large industries, supported workers associations to replace wage labor and opposed the land.

  Proudhon argued that those working should keep all of what they produced, and that the monopoly of credit and land forces that were prevented. He advocated an economic system that included private property and possession and market exchange without obtaining profits, what he called mutualism. Proudhon's philosophy was explicitly rejected by Joseph Déjacque in the early anarchist when in a letter to Proudhon said that "it is not the product of his work to which the worker is entitled, but to sat
isfy their needs, whatever nature. " Closer to the individualism of communism Proudhon said that "communism ... is very injurious to the foundations of society ..."He was the author of the famous phrase " property is theft "in reference to his rejection of the rights to the land that guaranteed property of those who worked it.

  After Dejacque and other break with Proudhon due to further support individual ownership and economic exchange, the ratio of the individualists, who continued in relative alignment with the philosophy of Proudhon, with anarchist characterized by different levels of antagonism and harmony. For example, while they individualists like Tucker translated and reprinted works of collectivists like Mikhail Bakunin, on the other hand rejected the economic aspects of collectivism and communism as incompatible with anarchist ideals.

  Max Stirner and selfishness

  Max Stirner, post-Hegelian philosopher of the nineteenth century, is a well known historical influence of individualist anarchism, even if Stirner was not a theorist of Anarchy (practical or political philosophy) but the ego (psychological, moral).

  Stirner's book, The Ego and Its Own, published in 1844, argued that the only limitation on the individual is their power to obtain what they want. Suggests that the commonly accepted social institutions, including the notion of State, property as a right, natural rights, and in general the very notion of society are reifications of mind.Stirner begins by stating that the center of all thought, and even of all reality, is the man. However, it is not the man in general, or the representative of an abstract humanity, but the individual, "myself" as "I" only. "Single" is unique because it is not related to anything, but rather because he, and he alone, is the foundation of any possible relationship. All that binds me to others, or anything that I have in common with others, is only relative compared to absolute character of "my" uniqueness. In sum, the uniqueness does not seem to be in Stirner absence of relationship, but the relationship is no uniqueness.

  Stirner proclaims that all religions and ideologies are based on empty concepts, which superimposed on the (selfish) personal interests of individuals reveal their disability. The same applies to social institutions that support these concepts and to claim authority over the individual, trying to make the individual a slave, use this to their selfish cause. The same is true for both the "God" of Christians as the "Site" or the "Freedom" of modern ideologues, it is always ideal. They are nothing more than beliefs, ghosts, abstract thoughts intended to perpetuate the state of servitude and be above the individual.

  As opposed to this Stirner calls the creation of a voluntary association of people who are opposed to the concept of groups and abstract groups and not based on the ego of the individual, such as society, nation, state or family .

  The U.S. anarchist-individualism

  Beginning

  and Goodly Word: The PuriHenry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an important early influence in individualist thinking of the United States and Europe.American writer, poet, naturalist, contrary to all taxes, critical to the industrialization and progress, surveyor, historian, philosopher, and leading transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden , a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay On Civil Disobedience , an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust situation. His thought is an early precedent in the ideas of anarchism environmentalist, but with an emphasis on the individual experience of the natural world, which later would influence the thinking of health food trends. The idea of a simple life as a way of rejecting materialist / consumerist life and self-sufficiency were Thoreau's goals, and his entire project was inspired by transcendentalist philosophy.

  The American version of individualist anarchism strongly emphasizes the non-aggression principle and individual sovereignty. Some individualist anarchists, as in the case of Henry David Thoreau, not talk about the economy but simply the right of "disunity" of the state, providing for the gradual elimination of the state through social evolution. His anarchism rejects not only the State but to all organized associations of any kind, invoking the complete individual self-sufficiency.

  An early individualist anarchists, also very influential was Josiah Warren, who had participated in the experiment of "New Harmony", a failed socialist utopian community that had sponsored Robert Owen. Warren concluded that such a system was lower than that to respect the "individual sovereignty" and the right to dispose of the property and what follow-interest prescribes.

  Anarchists of Boston

  and the fruits of Benjamin Tucker, and other anarchists residing around the Boston area, were influenced by Warren, and the interpretation of the labor theory of value. Tucker thought it was unfair for people to receive higher income than others when they made a minor work. Tucker stated that the solution to that wages grow to its proper level was that the state should cease to interfere in the economy and stop protecting monopolies compentencia. He argued that lend money on interest involving a party who does not work for the case of the lender, so they saw interest rates as usury. These revenues were also perceived as unfair because they were gains without working. For Tucker and most contemporary American individualist, the rent of land can only be due to the "monopoly" and "privilege" sustained by the government, which restricts competition in the market and concentrates wealth in the hands of a few. Tucker said the private control of land should be supported only in the case of the holder thereof were using it, otherwise these holders would be able to charge rent to those who were working and producing. Tucker envisioned an individualist anarchist society where "every man cosechase the fruits of their work and no one could be living in idleness because capital income ... becoming a hive of anarchist workers, prosperous and free individuals carrying the production and distribution cost. "However, not all early individualist anarchists held this philosophy about land tenure. Warren and Lysander Spooner put no restrictions on the occupation and use of property. Steven T. Byington also opposed Tucker's ideas on the use and occupancy requirements for the land. They also supported the interchangeable private property in a free market. Advocated the protection of liberty and property through private agencies, and approved the exchange of labor for wages.

  Some "Boston anarchists" as Tucker, proclaimed themselves socialist, a term denoting a wide significance, by which would mean a commitment to solve "the labor question" through radical economic reform.

  The U.S. Stirnerite selfishness

  In the late nineteenth century came a great schism within the American individualism when Tucker and some others abandoned the theory of natural rights proclaimed and modeled selfish individualist philosophy of Max Stirner.

  Among American anarchists who adhered to Stirnerite selfishness are Benjamin Tucker, John Beverley Robinson, Steven T. Byington, Hutchins Hapgood, James L. Walker, Victor Yarros and EH Fulton.John Beverley Robinson wrote an essay called "Egoism" in which he states that "Modern egoism, as is proposed by Stirner and Nietzsche, and expounded by Ibsen, Shaw and others ... is the realization by the individual ... They are the only individuals "Modern egoism, as propounded by Stirner and Nietzsche, and expounded by Ibsen, Shaw and others, is all These, but it is more. It is the realization by the Single Individual That They are an; That, as far as They are concerned, They are the single only "..

  "Some newspapers were undoubtedly influenced by the presentation of Liberty . egoism These included: I published by CL Swartz, edited by WE Gordak and JW Lloyd (all associates of Liberty ), The Ego and The Egoist , both edited by Edward H . Fulton. Among European publications that Tucker followed were the German Der Eigene , edited by Adolf Brand, and The Eagle and The Serpent , published from London.

  The shapes of the Italian anti-organizational individualist anarchism were brought to the United Statesby individualistic born in Italy as Giuseppe Ciancabilla and others calling for the violent propaganda by the deed there. The anarchist historian George Woodcock reports the incident in which the leading Italian anarchist Errico Malatesta was found w
rapped "in a dispute with the individualist anarchists of Paterson, who insisted that anarchism implied no organization, and that every man should act only under his impulses . "

  In New York the exiled Italian Enrico Arrigoni Stirnerite eclectic individualist anarchist publication edited Eresia in 1928 and later will be a long term member of the Libertarian Book Club in the same city.

  Anarchy and American anarcoinsurrecionalism postleft

  1 Theory and History

  2 Review

  3 Related readings

  4 Bibliography

  4.1 References

  Theory and History

  The contemporary insurrectionary anarchism is heir to the Italian and French antiorganizacionism illegality of the early twentieth century.The concept of propaganda by deed and confrontation are the usual practices of "insurrectionist anarchism" in asserting that act violently against systems of domination can influence others to decide to act against what the press and, if given the Accordingly, the effect may even result in a general insurrection. Such a chain reaction of disobedience and rebellion would not need political entities or projects that organize to confront their enemies, who identifies as more violent than them.

  This trend emerged in Italy theoretically of the 1980s, inspired by subversive experience of the past decade (1970s) in a climate of political turmoil dense lived. Its main figure is Alfredo M. Bonanno. Some of his supporters see a precedent to his ideas in the violence of some anarchists of the early twentieth century, through the propaganda of the deed or individual expropriation.

  This trend has some individualistic influences, but can also be considered as part of the post-left anarchism. Conceive individual relationships based on affinity groups, not to sacrifice individual autonomy autodefiniéndose as "a collective movement of individual fulfillment." Other authors are Wolfi Landstreicher insurrectionalists Constantine Cavalleri, Gustavo Rodríguez Killing King Abacus and. The recent insurrectionalist individualism has been influenced by the postmodern critique of modernity; in turn, makes a critique of permanent organizations classical anarchism and syndicalism