ENGL 298 B: Intermediate Writing Social Sciences   Autumn 2011, University of Washington

After reading Goldman’s essay on anarchism it seems evident that she does not believe in the institution that is an overbearing government.  She seems to take on the attitude of a child that does not being like told what to do and instead of providing a solution she just provides points to show that the current system is incorrect and inefficient.  She does not give instructions on how to change society into a “perfect” one but rather shows what ought to be.

Goldman would see her idea as being full of thin self people.  The idea of not having a governing body leaves everybody to be their own ruler.  While people could help others in society, the way to survive and prosper in anarchy would be to look out for yourself, and only yourself.  Goldman might see thin selfhood as vital because equality, that is everybody being an equal individual, is what she strives for.  When talking about crime and law she states that, “If society were only relieved of keeping a lazy class…the social tables would contain an abundance for all”(21).  By eliminating the threat of punishment for crimes, also known as removing authority, Goldman argues that people would live on a more equal level than they currently do in an established form of a ruling government.

While Goldman does advocate for thin selfhood she also dabbles with an idea of thick selfhood in that “the real me” is my commitments.  She advocates for an individualistic society, meaning while people choose their own commitments and put their own interests above others, they are still committed to who they really are.

Goldman concludes her essay by stating that anarchism, “stand[s] for the spirit of revolt, in whatever form, against everything that hinders human growth”(22).  This summation shows that Goldman relates more to the thin self because the people in an anarchist society would choose to live without government instead of being forced to live under one.