Men Against the State: The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism in America, 1827-1908 [Hardcover]

James J. Martin (Author), Harry Elmer Barnes (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1953

Men Against The State:The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism in America, 1827-1908 The writing of a history of anarchism in the United States will run into the difficulties created by the necessity of establishing criteria for the purpose of separating anarchism from other expressions of radical social thought which may be allied to but are distinct from it. On the verbal level the most perplexing problem is that of definition of terms, beginning with the basic word itself. In one respect the obstruction may never be bridged. An almost insuperable barrier has been the matter of semantics. The use of the term as an identification for a social order characterized by the absence of the State is quite recent. As used by Pierre Joseph Proudhon in this way, it is hardly more than a century old. However, its association with reprehensibility in this country has generally greatly restricted its use for descriptive purposes. European radicals have been far less inhibited in this way; hence the study of anarchism there is relatively unimpeded by hesitancy on the part of radicals to disclose themselves. Their propaganda has been open and identified, and thus may be readily examined.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The idea has long been prevalent that violent conduct is characteristic of anarchists, and that anarchism is a doctrine of destruction. There exists little justification for such a stand, in actuality. In addition, the rejection of one particular variety of authority in favor of its replacement by another finds continual identification with anarchism, while social philosophies which are utterly opposed to it are on occasion labeled "anarchistic." This merely adds to the already large amount of confusion existing on the subject, setting up extremely vague limitations and permitting the inclusion of many elements which are quite controversial. Mere dissatisfaction with or opposition to the existing order anywhere is gravely insufficient to serve as evidence of anarchist sentiments. Nor is a program of pure negation or obstructionism more than faintly related; anarchists are not advocates of replacing something with nothing. An example of presumption is the widespread interchangeable use of the terms "nihilism" and "anarchism." Actually, the anarchist proposes specific solutions for social problems. His occasional tendency to mask them by encouraging the greater disintegration and decay of the older order may lead to identifying him with an element which desires plan-less, cumulative revolutionary disorder. But the anarchist and those enamored with perpetual revolutionary dynamism part company long before this. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Adrian Allen Associates; 1st edition (1953)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0007ECIPO
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars the tradition of American self-reliance, July 29, 2008

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golgotha.gov (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Men Against the State: The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism in America, 1827-1908 (Paperback)

MEN AGAINST THE STATE (1953)
by James J Martin
includes original forward by Harry Elmer Barnes

This book contains the biographies of several men who advocated varyious types of societies without government. They are some of the ideological ancestors of various modern movements including anarcho-capitalism, individualist anarchism, libertarianism and mutualism. Anybody who sympathizes with any of these philosophies should read this book!

'MEN AGAINST THE STATE' has a special place in my own memory because it was the first place that I learned about Josiah Warren. Warren was an interesting guy who actually got to put his economic ideas into practice. He founded various little colonies including "Modern Times" on Long Island, NY and a second incarnation of "Utopia" in southwestern Ohio. Unlike many contemporary anarchists, Warren believed in private property. His ideas were compared with Pierre Proudhon, although he denied any connection. The first four chapters deal with his activities and his influence. In my opinion, the chapters on Josiah Warren are worth the price of the book.

The most famous men in this book are Lysander Spooner and Benjamin Tucker. Both are discussed at length as well as Ezra Heywood, William H Greene, J.K. Ingalls and Stephen Pearl Andrews. You will notice some similarities between many of these men. Several of them started as ministers, and several of them were abolitionists. Nevertheless, many opposed the Civil War on various grounds ranging from simple pacifism to opposition to state aggression to the constitutional right to secession. It is interesting to hear the internal debates over issues that are still relevant today, such as taxation, labor organizing and the role of a central bank. "Individualist Anarchism" was a truly decentralized movement and these men often disagreed. What united them was their observation that government would not instill equality among mankind.

This book will be enjoyed by anybody who has ever been skeptical about whether governments help us or hurt us. I would especially recommend this book to Americans who want to know what happened to the great anti-authoritarian tradition in the generations after the Founders.