The first philosopher to call himself an anarchist was Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. In his 1840 book, What is Property?, he declared: “I am an anarchist.” By this he meant not that he wanted to throw spherical black bombs under the carriages of noblemen, but that he distrusted the principle of authority. The literal meaning of the word, which is Greek, is “against authority” or “no authority”. This means that the adjective “anarchist” can be applied to institutions as wide-ranging as the village cricket match or the medieval city state or a punk gig in a squat. The cricket match and city state and the punk gig might be very well organised, but they have been organised by a voluntary group and not under compulsion.
Later in the 19th century the anarchist Prince Kropotkin, a Russian aristocrat turned geographer turned political radical, wrote a book called Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, which attempted to prove that, far from being locked in a winner-takes-all competition, humans and animals are in fact naturally inclined to help one another out.
Anarchy is in the news because a group of Black Lives Matter activists has taken over a set of buildings in Seattle and declared themselves to be a self-governing city state, rather like Christiania in Copenhagen. It’s called CHAZ, or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Accounts of the atmosphere of the occupation remind me a little of George Orwell’s description of the intoxicating period when Barcelona went briefly anarchist during the Spanish Civil War. A reporter from the Counterpunch website wrote:
“The businesses on the street were still open as was the park when I visited. There was no sign of smashed windows or burnt buildings. There had been no looting and there was no violence of any sort occurring.
“There was a ‘No Cop Co-Op’ covered stand offering free fruit, vegetables, snacks, umbrellas, hand sanitizer and water set up in the middle of their occupied territory. There was also a covered truck converted into a People’s Community Clinic with its own emergency medical team.”
As is customary with such innovations, the authoritarian enemies of the free thinkers spread slanders. President Trump has already attacked Seattle’s mayor, writing on the advertising sales business Twitter: “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will.” He referred to the group as “ugly anarchists” and “terrorists that burn and pillage our cities”.
Anarchism in fact has a long and distinguished history as a peaceful political philosophy. You can find out more from my online course, A Brief Introduction to Anarchism. Half price this week!
Tonight we’re having a drink with poet and dramatist Murray Lachlan Young, who, to crown his many other creative achievements, has just recorded a Kraftwerk-influenced song with Paul Hartnoll of Orbital entitled “I’m Going Shopping”. We’ll be chatting to Murray about poetry, anarchy, consumerism in the age of coronavirus and much else. Plus he’ll be performing some new poems. Mark Vernon will also be there, dispensing his brilliant wisdom.
To join us, click here. It’s free.
The July/August edition of the Idler is now at the printer and will be hitting doormats around 30 June. It features Armando Iannucci, Sally Phillips and Stewart Lee’s new music column.
A DRINK WITH THE IDLER: MURRAY LACHLAN YOUNG
Join the Idler for a chat with poet Murray Lachlan Young, Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson and philosopher Mark Vernon.
Your host will be Idler Academy director Victoria Hull.
The discussion will be followed by a live Q&A.
It’s free.
Murray Lachlan Young is a British poet, stand-up performer, broadcaster, playwright, screenwriter and children’s author. He came to prominence during the Brit Pop era of the mid 1990s, when he became the only poet to sign a contract worth £1m. His work echoes the great rhymers Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll and Gilbert and Sullivan, along with more alternative influences such as Grandmaster Flash, Tom Waits and Ian Drury. Murray’s satirical commentaries can read like RD Laing in their philosophical intensity, whilst their subjects range from the vanities of celebrity and middle-class angst, to the absurdities of modern life. Currently, Murray is the poet in residence on BBC 6 Music radio station. A collection of his work How Freakin’ Zeitgeist are you? is published by Unbound books.
Dr Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist, writer, broadcaster and teacher. His most recent books include – The Idler Guide To Ancient Philosophy (Idler Books), Love: All That Matters (Hodder). He broadcasts on the BBC and can often be heard on Moral Maze. He began his professional life as a priest in the Church of England.
Tom Hodgkinson is editor of the Idler and author of How to be Idle, How to be Free and The Idle Parent. Other books include his account of living on a smallholding, Brave Old World, The Ukulele Handbook and a manual for creative entrepreneurs, Business for Bohemians.
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Date: Thursday 18 June 2020
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: Online via Zoom link
Cost: Free or donation if you wish
How to join: Register by clicking the ‘GET TICKETS’ button above
