ABSTRACT

Examining the political theory of anarchism from a philosophical and historical perspective, Paul McLaughlin relates anarchism to the fundamental ethical and political problem of authority. The book pays particular attention to the authority of the state and the anarchist rejection of all traditional claims made for the legitimacy of state authority, the author both explaining and defending the central tenets of the anarchist critique of the state. The founding works of anarchist thought, by Godwin, Proudhon and Stirner, are explored and anarchism is examined in its historical context, including the influence of such events as the Enlightenment and the French Revolution on anarchist thought. Finally, the major theoretical developments of anarchism from the late-nineteenth century to the present are summarized and evaluated. This book is both a highly readable account of the development of anarchist thinking and a lucid and well-reasoned defence of the anarchist philosophy.

chapter |22 pages

Introduction

A Philosophical Approach to Anarchism

part 1|75 pages

Anarchism and the Problem of Authority

chapter Chapter 1|12 pages

Defining Anarchism

chapter Chapter 2|24 pages

The Nature of Authority

chapter Chapter 3|20 pages

Forms of Authority

chapter Chapter 4|18 pages

The Legitimacy of the State

part 2|85 pages

Anarchism and the History of Ideas

chapter Chapter 5|16 pages

The Historical Foundations of Anarchism

chapter Chapter 6|38 pages

Foundational Texts of Anarchism

chapter Chapter 7|14 pages

Theoretical Developments of Anarchism

chapter |16 pages

Conclusion

The Problem of Authority in Social Context