Anarchism Flashcards
Collectivist anarchists
-See humans as rational, but emphasise that human nature is altruistic and cooperative
-The unjust nature of the state means that the individual is not free to be altruistic and cooperative
-For collectivists, the individual can only be free when all are free to realise their otential
-Liberty is only possible if there is equality, where people treat each other equally, have equal economic position and have an equal say in their workplace or community
Anarchists agree that individuality does not exist outside of society, as every individual needs others in order to develop, expand and grow. However, anarchist views of liberty are on a sliding scale between individualist and collectivist tendencies:
-Collectivists such as Bakunin emphasise the collectible more, arguing that liberty of the individual should be absolute and unlimited, but that individuality can only be achieved through work and the collective
-Even the most radical of individualists, Max Stirner, argues that the individual needs voluntary associations with others, but never for the common good and always for their own personal interest
-Proudhon was critical of the obsession with individuality and felt that collectivism absorbed and devalued the individual. His ideas sought a balance between the two, arguing that the first element of human nature is individuality, but that individuals coming together in a group create a force that is more than the sum of individuals.
Anarchy is order
