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Anarchism And The Morality Of Violence, Edward Abbey

Philosophy ETDs

The idea of anarchism is embarrassed, however, by its traditional association with illegality and violence. The word itself is sufficient to evoke visions of riot and revolution, bombings and assassinations, in the minds of many who might otherwise be willing to lend to anarchism a measured degree of sympathetic consideration. If anarchism is to regain the intellectual respectability which it deserves, two preliminary quest ions must be answered 1 (1) To what extent is the traditional association of anarchism and violence warranted? And (2), In so far as the association is a valid one, what arguments have the anarchists presented, …