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

English 298b

MP Rough Draft

10/19/11

Emmett Egger

            Socrates: I was just at a coffee shop discussing political authority with several people enjoying a latte and I was amazed at how ignorant they were.

Goldman: I have learned not to be astonished by the ignorant mass. I am an anarchist and at first it shocked me to realize how many people would make their mind up on what anarchism is with no knowledge of what it stands for. The most violent element in society is violence

            Socrates: I have had a similar experience with dealing the men that society considers to be ‘wise.’ Through the Socratic method I have discovered that most of the time people that have acquired knowledge in one area think it qualifies them to make assumption in another area in which they actually no very little about. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me on the true ideals of anarchism? 

            Goldman: Anarchism gives man the freedom to not be restricted by man made law and that all governments are based on violence and are therefore wrong hurtful and not necessary.  Anarchism is the liberator of man from the phantoms that imprison him. There are three phantoms, religion which is the dominion of the human mind; property which is the dominion of human needs; and government which is the dominion of human conduct. These phantoms enslave man! It is through these phantoms that does not allow humans to live a freely chosen life.  Political authority uses these phantoms to steal the products of our labor, our power of free initiative, our originality and our interprets and desire of the things we make. Through anarchism we will produce real wealth. Real wealth are things of utility and beauty, things that will help us create strong beautiful bodies and an environment that is inspiring to live in. Anarchisms goal is to so that man can live in a way that will allow him to be the freest possible expression of an individual and break free from political authorities strong hold on shaping us through the phantoms of authority. This free display of free human energy is only possible without religion, property and government. If we rid our selves of these institutions that imprison us we will able to experience the true beauty of anarchism. “Bakunin repudiates the State as synonymous with the surrender of the liberty of the individual or small minorities.”Governments are not legitimate, because they use violence force and coercion to survive from being eradicated. This is how government has wronged us and it is why we need to rid ourselves of government.  To diminish theses institution that bind us from living freely we must revolt in any form against anything that hinders from achieving the idea of anarchism.

            Socrates: I find the way you represent anarchism very interesting. There is no doubt that this idea will require much consideration and thought for one to make an informed decision. Although you make a compelling case for anarchism I am not a believer in it just yet. You believe that man made institutions have wronged us. These institutions are religion, property and government. You tell me that they have wronged all of us, but what gives you the right to eradicate these institutions. If we harm them to achieve anarchisms goal than we have done to them what they have done to us. Committing a wrong is never right, but it is not all right to harm the thing or person that has hurt you. If we resort hurting these institutions than we are no better than the institutions that have harmed us and therefore we must not harm them.  Furthermore, it was these institutions that brought you to birth and your father and your mother got married. These establishments nurtured and educated you. They gave you books to read and provided you with the security that allowed you to pursue the intelligence needed to be able to express the idea of anarchism. Without these foundations you would not be where you are today. You country should be thought of more highly than your own mother and father and you should not spite them back when they punish you just like as a child you would not hit your parents after they discipline you. You must either convince the authorities or you must obey its force. It is blasphemous to bring brutality against your country! Especially, after they have supported us since our first breath in life. Do any of the laws of the United States prohibit you from leaving? If you were not happy with the countries ‘phantoms’ of authority you surely could have left. You benefited from this societies foundations and continued to live here even though you could have left. It is not right to destroy the government that has cultivated you. You have given your consent for the rules of this society to be enforced upon you. Anyone who annihilates the laws could comfortably be thought of as corruptive and ignorant which is to my understanding a key component anarchism fights against.

            Goldman: “A practical scheme, says Oscar Wilde, is either one already in existence, or a scheme that could be carried out under the existing conditions;” This is why it is near impossible to persuade society to become anarchistic, because it is not viewed by most as feasible. This is why if we need to we must resort to wronging the authorities that have harmed us. You are right that I could leave the United States and none of the laws forbid me from doing so, but where would I go. There is no place on earth where people are not coerced by governments and are not enslaved to their power. How can any country be honored so greatly if it hurts you so much. Should an athlete have an abundance of respect for a trainer that hurts him or should he have enormous appreciation for the trainer that helps nurture him in the best way? I believe in the latter and I will fight for this utopia to become a reality till the day I die.

            Socrates: We clearly have different principals and I wish you luck in realizing your ideal place and life. I have found the true ideals of anarchism to be quite intriguing.