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drbjjcarpenter's review
4.0
A huge amount of stuff he says is contestable, but a pretty interesting read.
nonsensetwice's review
5.0
This is compact, dense, and surprisingly easy to read. In terms of the density, Kropotkin manages to capture some of the primary concepts of anarchy, namely those of community and consensus, in terms of society and solidarity. A powerful read, and one I will be revisiting periodically. I highly recommend this.
fedes_library's review
4.0
"Be strong. Overflow with emotional and intellectual energy, and you will spread your intelligence, your love, your energy of action broadcast among others! This is what all moral teaching comes to.”
We often find ourselves using the word "anarchy" in our everyday life, but I've always wondered what does this mean exactly. How can one be completely "anarchist" in our society? What would that entail in practice? This pamphlet by Kroptkin helped me to gain a better understanding of such an abstract concept. Kroptkin is a very interesting figure, a Russian anarchist who fought against the Zar but, after the 1917 revolution, distanced himself from Lenin's increasingly dictatorial and autocratic bolschevick rule.
In this pamphlet, kroptkin's thesis is that humans and animals all share an identical innate morality, which follows the motto "do to others what you want to be done to you by others in the same situation". According to him, "morality" does not mean following institutions such the laws of the state, the school, religion or philosophy; rather, it is an instinctive universal necessity to preserve our species, and - in the case of humans - to live in solidarity with other people and act in favour of the progress of humanity.
This idea leads the author to express an inspiring hope for the future generations: "What is admired by a so-called moral man are vigour and exuberance, qualities that allow him to put his knowledge, his acts and his passion at the service of others [...], without asking anything in exchange. [...] An intellectually superior man doesn't keep his thoughts for himself, but rather spreads them along his path, and, if he is not able to do so, he deeply suffers for it."
"Struggle so that all may live this rich, overflowing life. And be sure that in this struggle you will find a joy greater than anything else can give."
"Do this if it so pleases you, but know that humanity will regard you as petty, contemptible, and feeble, and treat you as such. Having no evidence of your strength, it will act towards you as one worthy of pity - and pity only."
We often find ourselves using the word "anarchy" in our everyday life, but I've always wondered what does this mean exactly. How can one be completely "anarchist" in our society? What would that entail in practice? This pamphlet by Kroptkin helped me to gain a better understanding of such an abstract concept. Kroptkin is a very interesting figure, a Russian anarchist who fought against the Zar but, after the 1917 revolution, distanced himself from Lenin's increasingly dictatorial and autocratic bolschevick rule.
In this pamphlet, kroptkin's thesis is that humans and animals all share an identical innate morality, which follows the motto "do to others what you want to be done to you by others in the same situation". According to him, "morality" does not mean following institutions such the laws of the state, the school, religion or philosophy; rather, it is an instinctive universal necessity to preserve our species, and - in the case of humans - to live in solidarity with other people and act in favour of the progress of humanity.
This idea leads the author to express an inspiring hope for the future generations: "What is admired by a so-called moral man are vigour and exuberance, qualities that allow him to put his knowledge, his acts and his passion at the service of others [...], without asking anything in exchange. [...] An intellectually superior man doesn't keep his thoughts for himself, but rather spreads them along his path, and, if he is not able to do so, he deeply suffers for it."
"Struggle so that all may live this rich, overflowing life. And be sure that in this struggle you will find a joy greater than anything else can give."
"Do this if it so pleases you, but know that humanity will regard you as petty, contemptible, and feeble, and treat you as such. Having no evidence of your strength, it will act towards you as one worthy of pity - and pity only."
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