ThePositivitoyfAnarchism GiovannBi aldelli (*) . THE TITLE or this article, modelled and ronowing upon, . that of David Wieck's thoughtful paper in the Iast number of «Interrogations:t, may be misleading. It is not meant, in ract, to be a refutation of what David Wleck wrote, even less to present an alternative, equally plausible, aspect of anarchlsm. It 1s lntended to complete, rather than , to detract from, the statements and suggestions made by Wieck. The negatlvity and positivity of anarchlsm, as of anything else, are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. On the other hand, as expressive of judgements of value, they are susceptible of dlfferent applications and interpretations, and can be fruitfully added to, explored and re-explored. What the terms «positive> and «negative> lmmediately suggest, when applled to a particular social philosophy such as anarchism, is that this philosophy should be accepted or rejected, while the whole import of David Wieck's paper is that, if anarchtsm is to be accepted, it ought to be with and because of its negativity. The positlvity of it he does not belittle or deny. He clearly states that «anarchism is not merely antl-state,, but that «somehow it is an idea or theory of freedom,; lt ls not merely «the _.genertc social and polltical idea that expresses negation of all power, sovereignty, domination and hierarchical division>, but also «a will to their dissolution,; anarchism Hepresents somethlng other than mere absence pf government, something other than the freedom to do anything one wants, something dlfferent than a freedom llmited by what will harm others. It represents instead the alm of social union>. Contrastlng anarchism with marxism, it 1s the latter, he suggests, «that is apocalyptic and utopian, . . . that is simplistic ·and naive,. This article, likewise, whlle stressing the posltlvlty of anarchism, will * Author of «Social Anarchism», publtshed in the U.S.A. and tn England (Penguin Books). Two other essays, not yet published: «Not Revolutton, but Liberatton», and «Man, Woman, and Death». .An important poetry production, in ttaltan and in french. ·105
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