From Where Does Order Arise? Ecological Anarchy
This is my contribution to the last Carnival of Anarchy.
The infamous circled A is a very popular anarchist symbol , yet its origins may not be as well known. It’s symbolic of the seemingly paradoxical — from the standpoint of conventional wisdom on the source of stability in society — statement that anarchy is order. This comment is attributed to the French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon who put it forth in his book titled The Confessions of a Revolutionary. It rests on a conception that sees order as emerging spontaneously from the multitude of peaceful interactions between individuals. The intrusion of a centralized aggressively coercive authority into the peaceful relations of individuals would be viewed as destructive to this harmony.
A comparison can be made between the anarchist idea of order (defined as a relatively stable and peaceful society), as emerging from a source other than a central authority, and the ecological balance that results in nature without divine or directed assistance. A good example of this is the phenomenon of evolution, whereby a balance between animal species and other aspects of the environment is achieved without central direction.
Note: I realize that this post ends rather abruptly, but I was very curious to see what others thought of the validity of my argument. I feel like it may be kind of rough, so please do fire away in the comments section.
Natasha | Anarchy, Environmental Issues, LeftLibertarian.org
