The following research question had been imposed and will be worked on throughout this paper: How did anarchism, concerning the moral development and especially the connection between anarchism and the government, evolve in the past and which role did Henry David Thoreau play in this setting?
Anarchism is a highly interesting topic and especially during the current crisis concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive arise of various political movements, it gains more significance all over the globe. Anarchism has always been part of governmental systems and will always somehow establish itself in our society through certain individual thoughts and beliefs.
Concerning this, it is highly captivating to closely examine the development of anarchism especially in terms of morality and how this might have changed throughout the years. Another very important factor when it comes to anarchism is how this topic is connected to our government and the principles of how a government is build in the first place. This approach is very complex and can only be dipped into briefly as a very close examination would go beyond the constraints of this paper. What is also essential concerning this course is which role Henry David Thoreau played in this whole anarchism and morality combination and if his presence had a mentionable impact on how anarchism is viewed currently.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Characteristics of anarchism
3. Development of anarchism
3.1. Moral development of anarchism
3.2. Anarchism and the government
3.3. Democratic anarchism
4. Henry David Thoreau
4.1. Influences on Thoreau
4.2. Thoreau’s approach towards society
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This paper explores the historical and moral evolution of anarchism, examining how it relates to governmental structures and the specific contributions of Henry David Thoreau. The primary research question addresses the development of anarchism in terms of moral philosophy and its intersection with government authority, while evaluating Thoreau's pivotal role in shaping these concepts.
- The theoretical foundations and primary characteristics of anarchism.
- The moral development of anarchist thought and its relation to social order.
- The transformation of anarchist movements in the context of global political shifts.
- An examination of Henry David Thoreau’s philosophy and his critique of the state.
- The significance of individual conscience versus institutional authority.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Thoreau’s approach towards society
Thoreau had a very strong opinion about the American government at the time and expressed most of his thoughts on this subject in his essay “Civil Disobedience”. His most famous statement in this essay was “That government is best which governs least”. Although one might think that he was against the government in general, this was not fully the case. The American government at the time showed perfectly how men can successfully be imposed on in his opinion. He argues that the government does not guarantee freedom for the country, nor settle the West or educate the people in the country. The character in the American people has accomplished that much and even more if the government had not been a barrier sometimes. Unlike other followers of the anarchist movement, who would perhaps prefer no government at all, Thoreau wishes for a better government in his essay. He also favours the concept of conscience within the society and furthermore also in the government. Of course, the system itself does not have a conscience but it needs to be led by conscientious men in order to have a conscience. Men need to change from serving the state as machines and not thinking about anything they do, to live as human beings with conscience within the society (Thoreau 2014: 1-4). Thoreau expressed that the state and its government is not the worst but rather an accomplishment to serve the purpose of existing. In other words, if the purpose has been accomplished at a certain time, the government is not necessary any longer and its existence would no longer be justified. Another factor when it comes to the state and Thoreau is that he argued that the state itself does not have any authority concerning its own right and it only possesses as much power as the citizens have given to it. Although the state has the purpose of belonging to all the people, in his opinion the governing power was concentrated on some individual people and could therefore not serve its right purpose (Herr 1975: 470-471).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of anarchism in contemporary society and presents the research question regarding its moral development and the role of Henry David Thoreau.
2. Characteristics of anarchism: Defines the fundamental tenets of anarchism, including individual sovereignty, opposition to coercive authority, and the drive for social reform.
3. Development of anarchism: Analyzes the complex evolution of anarchist thought, specifically focusing on morality, the relationship with government, and the emergence of democratic anarchism.
3.1. Moral development of anarchism: Applies Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development to interpret how individual moral levels influence the support for or rejection of anarchist ideologies.
3.2. Anarchism and the government: Discusses the revival of anarchist movements, their shift toward informal and localized action, and the history of these movements in North America.
3.3. Democratic anarchism: Explores the connection between political uncertainty and the rise of anarchist ideologies within societies experiencing crises of legitimacy.
4. Henry David Thoreau: Introduces Thoreau as an American philosopher and transcendentalist, highlighting his critical stance on the state and his influence within individualist anarchist circles.
4.1. Influences on Thoreau: Examines the impact of figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Brown on Thoreau's views regarding state laws, higher laws, and individual action.
4.2. Thoreau’s approach towards society: Analyzes Thoreau's critiques of government, specifically his arguments in "Civil Disobedience" concerning conscience and the necessity of the state.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, reiterating the enduring significance of anarchist thought and Thoreau's contribution to political philosophy.
Keywords
Anarchism, Henry David Thoreau, Moral Development, Civil Disobedience, Government, Individualism, Transcendentalism, Social Movements, Authority, Political Philosophy, Conscience, State, Liberty, Resistance, Direct Action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the historical development of anarchist ideology, its relationship to moral philosophy and governmental systems, and the specific intellectual contributions of Henry David Thoreau.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
Key areas include the definition and characteristics of anarchism, Lawrence Kohlberg’s moral development theory in relation to political systems, the history of North American anarchist movements, and Thoreau's perspective on the state.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how anarchism evolved in the past regarding its moral development and its connection to the government, and what specific role Henry David Thoreau played in this context.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The work employs a literature-based theoretical analysis, combining political philosophy and moral development theory to interpret the historical contributions of key figures and movements.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It provides an overview of anarchist characteristics, a deep dive into the evolution of the movement through the 20th and 21st centuries, and an examination of Thoreau’s life, influences, and seminal writings.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Essential keywords include Anarchism, Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, Moral Development, and Individualism.
How does Thoreau’s concept of 'higher law' align with anarchist ideology?
Thoreau viewed the 'higher law' as a moral framework that supersedes state authority, supporting the belief that individuals are not obligated to follow laws that contradict their conscience or divine principles, which correlates directly with individualist anarchist thought.
What connection does the author make between the COVID-19 pandemic and anarchism?
The author uses the COVID-19 pandemic as a contextual example of a global crisis that has triggered political movements and brought renewed significance to the study of government and institutional authority.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Romana Pfurtscheller (Autor:in), 2020, The development of anarchism including an examination of Henry David Thoreau, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/938395
