Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Augustine · 05-30-2002, 06:13 PM

There seem to be a lot of intelligent people on this forum - quite a bit more intelligent than myself - so I was wandering what everyone else thinks of anarchism.

yelyos · 05-30-2002, 06:28 PM

Anarchy, not anarchism.

And I think that actual anarchy is very rare. Something just rushes in to take control; usually there is at least a gang or a mob that no-one can disobey in a given area of "anarchy".

Abacus · 05-30-2002, 06:40 PM

Maybe I just don't have a very good understanding of anarchism, but it always sounded just a little too idealistic to me. I'm not at all convinced that the abolition of government would lead to a utopia. It seems to me that the door would be wide open for the next Ghengis Khan wannabe.

I now await correction from those who have a better understanding of anarchism.

Liquidrage · 05-30-2002, 06:41 PM

I agree with yelyos.

"Might makes right" would seem to reign.

Truthfully, it is the ideal social system.
Just not right now and maybe not ever.

moon · 05-30-2002, 06:44 PM

<a href="http://flag.blackened.net/intanark/faq/index.html" target="_blank">Anarchist FAQ</a>

Actually, anarchy is the opposite of "might makes right." The whole point of anarchy is to replace the system of coercion with one based on free cooperation. Anyway, if you are interested in anarchy, read the FAQ. It is excellent.

elwoodblues · 05-30-2002, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Just not right now and maybe not ever.

Until the problem of scarcity is taken care of, it just won't work. Once we've gotten there, then we can talk.

Hayden · 05-30-2002, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liquidrage:
<strong>Truthfully, it is the ideal social system.
Just not right now and maybe not ever.</strong>

I think it would work perfectly, if you could eliminate those pesky humans from society!

August Spies · 05-30-2002, 09:47 PM

RNG:

Quote:

I'm not at all convinced that the abolition of government would lead to a utopia.

No anarchist of any serious level believes abolishing goverment is the road to Utopia... self-goverment is a PART of anarchist thought... but its also a part of libertarian capitalist thought...

anarchism involves a bit more, basically socialism.

Liquid Rage:

Quote:

"Might makes right" would seem to reign.

Though I wouldn't consider myself an anarchist, they are a bit too ideological for my taste, you would probably benefit from examining actual anarchists situations such as Spain 36 or Makhnovist Russia. Might makes right was not how things worked...

elwoodblues

I would argue that scarcity on any PRACTICAL level was solved years ago. At least as far as techology is concerned. Clearly capitalism has been able to distort things so such that it is not used for solving scarcity (but rather for planned obscelence of products, or used for war matericals that self-destruct)

Hayden Rogers

Hmm... thats what I always say about Capitalism. It would work great if humans weren't involved in the equation.

Straight Hate · 06-01-2002, 10:32 AM

I believe that anarchism is one of the most simple, yet advanced political philosopies that we've ever come up with. Looking at global politics, it is very clear to me that anarchy today would never work. Too often people needlessly bicker with one another. However, in a context of several hundred or thousand years hence when certain variables allow it, I believe we will see anarchy working quite nicely.

Naturally, my politics lean towards any ideal that would help speed up this process (increased education, civil liberties, more focus on science, etc.).

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Kathall ]</p>

Loren Pechtel · 06-01-2002, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by moon:
Actually, anarchy is the opposite of "might makes right." The whole point of anarchy is to replace the system of coercion with one based on free cooperation. Anyway, if you are interested in anarchy, read the FAQ. It is excellent.

You're assuming an agreement can always be reached. Sometimes none can and some source of authority is needed to resolve the dispute.

In time it devolves into whatever warlord is the most ruthless controlling things.

05-30-2002, 06:13 PM	#1
Augustine Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Central US Posts: 7	Anarchism There seem to be a lot of intelligent people on this forum - quite a bit more intelligent than myself - so I was wandering what everyone else thinks of anarchism.

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05-30-2002, 06:28 PM	#2
yelyos Regular Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: northern suburbs of Toronto, Canada Posts: 401	Anarchy, not anarchism. And I think that actual anarchy is very rare. Something just rushes in to take control; usually there is at least a gang or a mob that no-one can disobey in a given area of "anarchy".

05-30-2002, 06:40 PM	#3
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	Maybe I just don't have a very good understanding of anarchism, but it always sounded just a little too idealistic to me. I'm not at all convinced that the abolition of government would lead to a utopia. It seems to me that the door would be wide open for the next Ghengis Khan wannabe. I now await correction from those who have a better understanding of anarchism.

05-30-2002, 06:41 PM	#4
Liquidrage Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,301	I agree with yelyos. "Might makes right" would seem to reign. Truthfully, it is the ideal social system. Just not right now and maybe not ever.

05-30-2002, 06:44 PM	#5
moon Banned Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: former British colony Posts: 2,013	<a href="http://flag.blackened.net/intanark/faq/index.html" target="_blank">Anarchist FAQ</a> Actually, anarchy is the opposite of "might makes right." The whole point of anarchy is to replace the system of coercion with one based on free cooperation. Anyway, if you are interested in anarchy, read the FAQ. It is excellent.

06-01-2002, 10:32 AM	#9
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	I believe that anarchism is one of the most simple, yet advanced political philosopies that we've ever come up with. Looking at global politics, it is very clear to me that anarchy today would never work. Too often people needlessly bicker with one another. However, in a context of several hundred or thousand years hence when certain variables allow it, I believe we will see anarchy working quite nicely. Naturally, my politics lean towards any ideal that would help speed up this process (increased education, civil liberties, more focus on science, etc.). [ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Kathall ]</p>

06-01-2002, 11:38 AM	#10
Loren Pechtel Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Not Mayaned Posts: 96,752	Originally posted by moon: Actually, anarchy is the opposite of "might makes right." The whole point of anarchy is to replace the system of coercion with one based on free cooperation. Anyway, if you are interested in anarchy, read the FAQ. It is excellent. You're assuming an agreement can always be reached. Sometimes none can and some source of authority is needed to resolve the dispute. In time it devolves into whatever warlord is the most ruthless controlling things.

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