In the article we will talk about anarcho-individualism. What is this current, when did it arise, what features does it have. We will also consider its most prominent representatives and talk about the main ideas of this trend.
What is this about?
To begin with, we’ll deal with a new concept. Anarchism is an extensive socio-political movement that promotes the ideas of anarchy. This means complete anarchy and lack of control. Anarcho-individualism is a branch of anarchism that pursues the goal of establishing complete anarchy, that is, anarchy, in which there will be no place for any hierarchy or coercion. The basic principle of this direction is that a person himself can freely dispose of himself as he wants.
Anarcho-individualism is a traditional branch of anarchy, in which we are talking about a person and his will as a priority factor over any external circumstances, that is, over traditions, society, ideology, etc. This trend is not a separate and single discipline, but it part of individualistic philosophy. It is worth adding that sometimes its basic principles contradict each other.
The founders
We already know what anarchism is, but how did its individualistic branch develop? The formation of the main ideas was influenced by the works of William Godwin, G. Spencer, P. Proudhon, L. Spooner. Gradually, the flow spread to Europe and the United States. Spooner later developed ideas in America, where he paid particular attention to the economic side. His thoughts served to ensure that the current went beyond the mere denial of the state and made it possible to think about the complete freedom of the individual.
Toro
Also worth noting is Henry Thoreau and his work, Transcendentalism. The man was a writer, thinker, naturalist, abolitionist and public figure from America. Thoreau studied at Harvard University. Immediately after graduation, he became very interested in the ideas of transcendentalism. For some time, the man lived distantly on the shore of Walden Pond in a hut, which he built with his own hands. He himself also obtained everything necessary for life, without taking advantage of the benefits of civilization. He wrote his experiment of loneliness in detail in the book Walden, or Life in the Forest. After returning to an active life, the writer refused to pay America's taxes as a sign of protest against politics in Mexico. Because of this, he was imprisoned for a while. The man zealously defended the rights of blacks in society. An essay entitled “On the Debt of Civil Disobedience” had a significant impact on the work of M. Gandhi, L. Tolstoy and M. King. He created a circle in Boston, which dealt with Negro issues. He was friends with A. Alcott and R. Emerson. One of the first in his country supported the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin. He wrote several books immortalized in a monument near Walden. Henry Thoreau showed by personal example how to live life so that it was not “dictated”.
Stirner
Another founder of this trend is Max Stirner, a German philosopher who laid the foundations for such trends as postmodernism, nihilism, and existentialism. The main work is the book "The One and His Property".
Max Stirner studied at the University of Berlin, at the Faculty of Philosophy. He was ill a lot, so in total he spent in the walls of the educational institution for about 8 years. After that he took up teaching, became interested in Hegel. Successfully married, so I was able to leave the work of a teacher and devote myself completely to philosophy. According to his views, his opponent was L. Feuerbach, with whom they studied at the same university. He published works, attracted the attention of other philosophers. In the revolution of 1848 did not take any part. Soon he became poor, sometimes he was in prison because of debts.
Stirner's ideas in anarcho-individualism
The man has formed the concept of an absolute "I", which understands its uniqueness and reality. Personality for him is the center of the universe. Proceeding from this, the philosopher completely denies any concept of duty, duties, etc. He believes that human affairs should not be good, nor evil, nor Divine, nor diabolical. All these concepts are very subjective and have a separate meaning for each person. As for love, here Stirner is adamant. This feeling is beautiful only when it brings joy, but if it obliges you to something, it causes estrangement. The researcher completely denies such concepts as the state and society. He argues that these artificially created systems are only a skillful mechanism for controlling the masses in the interests of individuals.
The main features of Stirner’s teachings, which are the main ideas of anarcho-individualism, are the denial of morality and complete anarchy. He divides the last concept into two types. The first is when a person desires anarchy to achieve his own freedom. The second type implies a hostile attitude towards the social system. The ideas of anarcho-individualism are built around the first type of anarchy.
Current situation
As for the modern followers of this trend, it should be noted that they see society as conflict-free. It is focused on the person and his needs. People should observe their interests, but be able to agree for the sake of mutual benefit without the participation of any state bodies.
Key points:
- The follower of this movement has the goal of making the desired world a reality, and not turning it into a utopia.
- No one should depend on society.
- Any theoretical information about how people should work together should have a practical basis.
Common features
There are quite a few individual movements of individualistic anarchism, but they differ only slightly. Let's consider the main points in more detail:
- All attention is paid to the personality and its supremacy over any social and external circumstances, morality, principles, ideology, ideas, etc. A person should not depend on the desires of another person.
- Denial of the idea of revolution or its partial acceptance. Instead of revolution, the followers of this trend resorted to evolutionary methods of spreading anarchy. These are experiments, enlightenment, education. This understanding comes from the fact that an individual should not wait for global changes or a change in social change, she should be able to create her own system.
- Relations with other people can be both necessary and temporary. It all depends on the needs of the individual in a particular period of time. Personal experience and independence are emphasized. Selfishness is welcome.
Differences
It must be understood that anarcho-individualism and permissiveness are not the same thing. True anarchy is based on the fact that each person understands the importance of his own interests, and therefore does not create negative permissiveness in his actions.
The main differences relate to economic relations. Some followers believe that property and the market are superfluous elements that should not be in an anarchist society. Others, on the contrary, focuses on the importance of the market and property as opportunities to realize their own interest.
At the beginning of the last century, a large printing organ was operating in Europe, which published the journal Anarchy under the leadership of Albert Libertad. In Russia at that time, Lev Cherny and Aleksey Borovoi became vivid examples of the anarchist current.
Symbolism
The symbolism of the followers of this trend is not very diverse, but it is worth telling about it. What does anarcho-individualism look like? A flag is a rectangle divided by a diagonal. Its upper part is completely yellow, and the lower part is black. About why this flag was chosen, information was not preserved.
Famous anarchist individualists
As for popular personalities, it should be noted Emil Armand - a French writer and philosopher. He also became famous as a propagandist of nudism - again, the influence of anarchist individualism is noticeable. In his youth, he was inspired by Christian humanism, but later became a follower of Christian anarchism. Fell under the influence of B. Tucker, W. Whitaman R. Emerson. Because of this, a little later he became a convinced communist anarchist. A new round happened after meeting with the works of Stirner and Nietzsche, after which Armand began to sing the ideas of anarchism. I examined this concept from my own point of view, but very sensibly in the book Our Requirements as Individualist Anarchists, written in 1945.
Walter Block is a modern follower of the current, who is also an economist at the Austrian school. He actively advocates for voluntary slave contracts, believing that this is the work of every person.
The already mentioned Alesya Borova is a Russian philosopher, economist, lawyer and journalist. Studying as a lawyer, attended opening days, learned to play the piano. After he worked as an assistant professor at Moscow University. Traveled to Europe. He came to France as a Marxist, and left as an anarchist.
Benjamin Tucker
This person is worth considering separately, as it greatly influenced the ideas of anarchism. Benjamin Tucker is considered the largest ideologist of the discussed direction of anarchy in the United States. One of the first to defend the rights of women and the feelings of believers. Guided mainly by the ideas of Proudhon. He was an editor and publisher of Liberty magazine. His most popular book is Instead of a Book. At first, he professed the ideas of natural law, according to which a person could voluntarily dispose of the fruits of his labor. After reviewing the work of Striner, he accepted the position of egoism, which claimed that only power is important in society, so it is very important to learn to negotiate. He expressed washed away about replacing the state with private institutions, which would be a kind of guarantee of security and stability, even in conditions of anarchy. These ideas were later picked up by the anarcho-capitalists.
Summing up the article, we say that this area of anarchy is very interesting from a theoretical point of view. Of course, at the moment there are very few followers of the current, they are scattered around the world, so no development takes place. Despite this, the works of prominent representatives of such ideas are worthy of attention, since they have a rational kernel. Each person really lives in a slightly fictional world, where he is guided by absolutely subjective concepts and acts on the basis of decisions based on personal experience. The extreme is the denial of the state, although its goals are very logical. Indeed, in fact, in essence, the entire system of government is a clever mechanism, which, of course, not only controls, but also gives multiple guarantees, protects and develops its people.
So we figured out what anarchism is. Its separate course, considered by us, is one of the most interesting.