On Anarchism
by Noam Chomsky · first published 2013
50% recommend50% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An accessible introduction to anarchist thought from a libertarian socialist angle. It frames the state critically and traces how repression undid collectivist movements. Suited to newcomers to the subject.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Radical linguist, philosopher, and activist Noam Chomsky is one of the world's foremost intellectuals. Known for his brilliant evisceration of American foreign policy, state capitalism, and the mainstream media, he remains a formidable and unapologetic critic of established authority. On Anarchism sheds a much-needed light on the foundations of Chomsky's thought, specifically his constant questioning of the legitimacy of entrenched power. The book gathers his essays and interviews to provide a short, accessible introduction to his distinctively optimistic brand of anarchism. Chomsky eloquentl
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…the idea this shift can happen. Anyway, that's just my $0.02. If you made it this far into my comment, give this a read: http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/noam-chomsky-kind-an... And also read On Anarchism by Chomsky, it's fantastic. </shill>
on “Apple Acquires FoundationDB” ↗Well, I’ve definitely found Chomsky’s work helpful as a libertarian socialist critique of the state. His book “On Anarchism” helped lay out to me how collectivist movements of the past have often failed by direct violent repression from the state. I’ve not read Karl Marx but I’ve learned from others that his critique of capitalism…
on “Boston Dynamics’ new robot stacks boxes [video]” ↗…accountability, incentivizes the wrong things (arrest quotas) and (re-)hires the wrong people. I don't think anarchy is what you think it is. It wrongfully has picked up the entire Mad Max vibe. Any Chomsky talk on anarchism or the book of the same name ("On Anarchism") are a bit more nuanced introductions. Anarchism and police are "natural enemies" because anarchists believe the power police hold right now is unproportionate…
on “Abolish the Police? Survivors of the Chaos in Seattle Aren’t So Sure” ↗You’re wrong, which is why you’re being downvoted. A decent intro to the topic on the anarchist side is Chomsky’s On Anarchism
on “The "Take It Down" Act” ↗…first quote, you could also see this as entering a period of rule by corporations and businesses, where government is the only means for people to combat this. To quote Chomsky, in his most recent book On Anarchism: "Well, we have this huge rabid raccoon running around... it's called corporations. And there's nothing in the society right now that can protect people from that tyranny except the federal government...…
on “California regulator seeks to shut down 'learn to code' bootcamps” ↗…(Philip K Dick - short story) 5 - Seven brief lessons on Physics (Carlo Rovelli) 6 - I have no mouth, and I must scream (Herlan Ellison - short story) 7 - The art of simplicity (Dominique Loreau) 8 - On anarchism (Noam Chomsky) 9 - The difference engine (William Gibson, Bruce Sterling) 10 - Utopia (Thomas More) 11 - Sophie's world (Jostein Gaarder) 12 - Rete padrona (Federico Rampini - essays about the 'dark…
on “Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016?” ↗…he's unassailable, just that it's a very old complaint. I also think he was right about a bunch of stuff, and wrong on others. As for what he suggested, this is reminding me that I never read his work On anarchism. I heard him speak favorably about the anarchists in the Spanish Civil War. I also found that topic very interesting when I was getting a Spanish minor many years ago at college. I am sure many HN commenters…
on “TikTok users can't upload anti-ICE videos. The company blames tech issues” ↗The book in discussion: "On Anarchism provides the reasoning behind Noam Chomsky's fearless lifelong questioning of the legitimacy of entrenched power. In these essays, Chomsky redeems one of the most maligned ideologies, anarchism, and places…
on “Noam Chomsky – "On Anarchism" [video]” ↗