Kicking Against the Pricks: Anarchist Perfectionism and the Conditions of Independence

Abstract

The distinguished moral philosopher Philippa Foot begins her recent book Natural Goodness with the following story:

Wittgenstein [in an Oxford philosophy seminar, probably in the 1940s] interrupted a speaker who had realised that he was about to say something that, although it seemed compelling, was clearly ridiculous, and was trying (as we all do in such circumstances) to say something sensible instead. ‘No,’ said Wittgenstein. ‘Say what you want to say. Be crude and then we shall get on.’

(Foot, 2001: 1)

The crude thing I want to say is that a free, non-dominating society cultivates flourishing, independent individuals; that such individuals in turn support a free, non-dominating society; and that this is the best reason for advocating such a society. The most appealing thing about the imagined anarchist utopia is the people it would make possible, and who would make it possible: ‘O brave new world / That has such people in’t’ (Shakespeare, 1951: 24).