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BlackOxford's Reviews > On Anarchism
On Anarchism
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There Is No Benign Power
If you think anarchism means approval of chaos, think again. Anarchism is merely the rejection of the idea that there is an entirely legitimate source for power (Greek = without origin). Whether ascribed ultimately to having its source in God, the gods, The People or genetic legacy, power will always and everywhere be abused by those who wield it. Therefore anarchism's central principle is that power must be continuously questioned and challenged to prove that it is not acting in its own interests.
Noam Chomsky has spent his life getting under the skin of powerful people - academics, politicians, corporate executives, civil servants, in short, The Establishment. Many don't like him as a consequence and do their best to make him out to be yesterday's news.
But Chomsky's profound message is more important today than ever: Never, never trust power, regardless of who holds it or of the political or economic system in which it is exercised; always call it to account by whatever means is available.
On Anarchism is a sort of thoughtful handbook to help you on your way.
If you think anarchism means approval of chaos, think again. Anarchism is merely the rejection of the idea that there is an entirely legitimate source for power (Greek = without origin). Whether ascribed ultimately to having its source in God, the gods, The People or genetic legacy, power will always and everywhere be abused by those who wield it. Therefore anarchism's central principle is that power must be continuously questioned and challenged to prove that it is not acting in its own interests.
Noam Chomsky has spent his life getting under the skin of powerful people - academics, politicians, corporate executives, civil servants, in short, The Establishment. Many don't like him as a consequence and do their best to make him out to be yesterday's news.
But Chomsky's profound message is more important today than ever: Never, never trust power, regardless of who holds it or of the political or economic system in which it is exercised; always call it to account by whatever means is available.
On Anarchism is a sort of thoughtful handbook to help you on your way.
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Reading Progress
May 18, 2016
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May 20, 2016
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July 3, 2016
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December 27, 2016
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Angeliki
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Apr 18, 2017 06:12AM
It is important to think about the Greek origin of the word. It's interesting because in Greek αρχή can mean both "origin" or "beginning", as you mention, but it also means "authority". So technically, anarchy/anarchism (αναρχία/αναρχισμός) means "absence of authority".
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Angeliki wrote: "It is important to think about the Greek origin of the word. It's interesting because in Greek αρχή can mean both "origin" or "beginning", as you mention, but it also means "authority". So technica..."Thank you for that clarification Angeliki.
Of course! Your comment made me think of this for the first time. The fact that "authority" and "beginning" can be expressed with the same word in Greek is certainly interesting, from both a linguistic and a sociological perspective I guess! What does this mean for the concept of authority and how does it tie in with the ideal of classical democracy? Maybe a discussion for a different thread.Have a good day!
Angeliki wrote: "Of course! Your comment made me think of this for the first time. The fact that "authority" and "beginning" can be expressed with the same word in Greek is certainly interesting, from both a lingui..."Not to mention, "In the beginning was the Word... " A very different theological meaning indeed.
Nothing like not trusting authority. Kind of makes my day.
David wrote: "Nothing like not trusting authority. Kind of makes my day."I’m so glad you wrote that. It fills me with a sort of happy confidence as well.
Intriguing discussion - shedding new light on the word 'authorised' as applied to the New Testament etc., and begs the question: whose is the authority and with what legitimacy? I am now wishing we had studied Greek instead of (or as well as) Latin at my grammar school.
Anne wrote: "Intriguing discussion - shedding new light on the word 'authorised' as applied to the New Testament etc., and begs the question: whose is the authority and with what legitimacy? I am now wishing we..."I understand. How is it possible to live a full life without the Aorist tense?💁🏽♂️
Quoting Alan Moore, chaos is necessary for anarchism to exist. Chaos is not the endgame- but in many cases throughout history dissent has been a necessary factor in enabling progress, even if anarchism is not the goal. Hong Kong 2019 is a perfect recent example of this!
Tj wrote: "Quoting Alan Moore, chaos is necessary for anarchism to exist. Chaos is not the endgame- but in many cases throughout history dissent has been a necessary factor in enabling progress, even if anarc..."Questionable cause and effect in that aphorism, and in the Hong Kong situation.
Tj wrote: "Ok boomer"A true cut to the quick.
I wonder if for practical purposes we could define Chomsky's anarchism as absence of 'proper' reverence for authority, expressed through speech and the kinds of criticism Chomsky has done throughout his life, as well as nonviolent protest.Which is not to say, just speaking for myself, that I'm opposed to the protestors in Hong Kong- not at all- but I think chaos in that context is more of a side-effect when people have no other means of resistance against an authoritarian government. I wonder how many of us who talk about 'chaos' would enjoy it when it showed up at our doors.
I get off on it. Please dont fetshame 😘
Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in the Jurassic Park films, but its a major device in the first novel. Ordo AB Chao. Negatively- look at how easily Stalin and Lenin exploited, for lack of a better word, the drastically uneducated peasents in the Bolshevik Revolution. Would it have actually been a success if the teachings of Kropotkin were followed as oposed to Marx? Or even better, if either were precisely practiced.
Tj wrote: "Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in the Jurassic Park films, but its a major devic..."In a lot of ways, Lenin presided over a continuation of Tsarist Russia. No freedom of speech or expression, secret police, authoritarian rule, etc. And then Stalin came along and made it even worse. So obviously that wasn't much of a solution, agreed. There can be something very appealing in taking action, but it doesn't often turn out as planned.
Then again, terrible regimes have risen through democratic means as well- the Nazis being one example.
Without getting too SLC Punk here, my time spent in the diy community and witnessing a couple brawls, its chaos which exposes the cryptofascists and blatant neonazis who weed themselves into the scene. After they get thrown over the fence with a broken nose and then some order returns to the community. However, theres still the persistent irony of being antiwar and the skirmishes being reminiscent of state control- not anarchy 🤷♂️ Is chaos necessary when a democratic or nonviolent approach does not work and you are put in danger? Or flight or fight symptom, I think
Mike wrote: "I wonder if for practical purposes we could define Chomsky's anarchism as absence of 'proper' reverence for authority, expressed through speech and the kinds of criticism Chomsky has done throughou..."I don’t agree with the idea of proper reverence for authority. Don’t get me wrong: I a;so don’t advocate chaos. But as I said, the message is that power is a necessary evil - the necessity doesn’t offset the evil. Power must never be respected but needled constantly lest it spread beyond what is necessary.
Tj wrote: "I get off on it. Please dont fetshame 😘"🤘
Tj wrote: "Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in the Jurassic Park films, but its a major devic..."See my #18 above.
BlackOxford wrote: "Mike wrote: "I wonder if for practical purposes we could define Chomsky's anarchism as absence of 'proper' reverence for authority, expressed through speech and the kinds of criticism Chomsky has d..."Totally agree, and well said. I didn't mean to suggest that I think reverence for authority is proper, I don't at all- I just used the word 'proper' in quotations to reflect what might be conventional wisdom.
Mike wrote: "Tj wrote: "Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in the Jurassic Park films, but its a ..."Democracy is an attempt to square a social circle. Ultimately it fails logically. People have interests. Many of those interests involve the constraint on the interests of others. Democracy, at its best, finds some sort of working compromise among these interests. However the consequence is what Kenneth Arrow discovered in the 1950’s, namely that the compromise will always be that which all (or most) can accept, but that no one wants. Even those on top are unhappy with democratic solutions in other words. Democracy guarantees a situation of permanent and universal discontent.
Tj wrote: "Without getting too SLC Punk here, my time spent in the diy community and witnessing a couple brawls, its chaos which exposes the cryptofascists and blatant neonazis who weed themselves into the sc..."Right, the whole 'is-it-okay-to-punch-a-nazi?' debate. I had a roommate who was a genuine fascist, so I understand the impulse. But I also don't think you ever change anyone's mind with a punch. You just solidify him in his views, and his desire for revenge.
BlackOxford wrote: "Mike wrote: "Tj wrote: "Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in the Jurassic Park film..."I suppose that's the same way Freud saw civilization in general in Civilization and its Discontents, but in his view the give-and-take is between our impulses and the norms of society. Interesting. Do you think democracy then is the best solution, Michael, albeit imperfect?
Mike wrote: "BlackOxford wrote: "Mike wrote: "Tj wrote: "Im obviously being sarcastic, no one likes having to resort to chaotic means. Michael Chrichton is wrote about it a bunch too- its not so prevelent in th..."I don’t think there is a solution. Power-seeking is the real original sin. It’s both cause and effect in social existence. The situation is at least compatible with Freud’s view. But his is rather too restricted.
Mike, Im a pacifist. I feel guilty when I eat a hamburger or cheese for christs sake, lmao. However even though I might not engage in physical violence with a fascist unless confronted and must defend myself I can and will make their life a living hell granted Im able to do so. Being room mates with one presents the perfect opportunity to do so, frankly. Have you read Trotsky, or Malcolm X? Both present two different approaches on combating fascism.
Tj wrote: "Mike, Im a pacifist. I feel guilty when I eat a hamburger or cheese for christs sake, lmao. However even though I might not engage in physical violence with a fascist unless confronted and must def..."Resistance! It drives them mad and requires much less energy. ✊🏾
This book floated into my GR recommendations and your review popped up. Anarchism interests me, partly because of Chomsky but also resulting from growing into consciousness during the 1970s when progressive thinking was at its prime. Why doesn't everyone think long and hard about how the world works, I always wondered. Anarchism is the thinking person's politics I always believed. Take responsibility and act on it. But the forces of fear mongering are far too great and overpowering. Vegans Vegetarians, Environmentalists who act on their values seem the closest to this idea that they do not derive their thoughts and actions from the powers that be; though they too can feel like religions which are never anarchist in nature. As the digital age was emerging, power theoretically could be shifted. But information is now more tightly controlled than people. Perhaps because we can be so anarchic.
Nick wrote: "This book floated into my GR recommendations and your review popped up. Anarchism interests me, partly because of Chomsky but also resulting from growing into consciousness during the 1970s when pr..."Snap. Same influences. Short answer: people are mostly sheep who want authoritative direction (or, more charitably, clarity about the rules of the game). Hence the perennial appeal of totalitarianism both religious and political. Also not trusting power as a principle is awkward in a democratic society because at least occasionally your side gets in. More generally, the hope is that, as they used to say about Elizabeth Taylor and her marriages, ‘eventually she’ll get around to me.’
James C Scott in his book Against the Grain argues that the shift to grain based agriculture went against human autonomy. Mesopotamia was a place of abundance of foods and people could live in small groups within easy reach of a varied diet. But they were forced over millennia perhaps to adapt to working for others, ruled over by military might with malnutrition. Once you have given up (lost) your autonomous ways, you were the mercy of others. Agriculture therefore wasn't obvious as we think is his point, more at the point of a spear.Of course all the evidence for his position is hard to get a hold of. Which is a shame, because I love the argument.
Nick wrote: "James C Scott in his book Against the Grain argues that the shift to grain based agriculture went against human autonomy. Mesopotamia was a place of abundance of foods and people could live in smal..."How interesting. Yet another lead to investigate!
Nick wrote: "James C Scott in his book Against the Grain argues that the shift to grain based agriculture went against human autonomy. Mesopotamia was a place of abundance of foods and people could live in smal..."Ah, you see: a Williams College man. A good education is hard to keep down.
I'm not familiar with your colleges. Williams is a good place is it?
Nick wrote: "I'm not familiar with your colleges. Williams is a good place is it?"Not British. American. In Williamstown, Western Massachusetts. Small. Spread out in the woods. For my money the best university in America. If my karma allows I am going to come back to study nothing but dead languages at Williams.
My youngest is a Williams grad, class of 2013. 🎓 A fantastic college with some of the highest academic standards.
Kevin wrote: "My youngest is a Williams grad, class of 2013. 🎓 A fantastic college with some of the highest academic standards."Well done. We need more like it.
