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Single Idea 20488

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 2. Anarchism ]

Full Idea

Many anarchists have accepted the need for the authority of experts within society

Gist of Idea

It is hard for anarchists to deny that we need experts

Source

Jonathan Wolff (An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) [2006], 1 'Anarchism')

Book Ref

Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.31

A Reaction

The status of experts may be the hottest topic in contemporary politics, given the contempt for experts shown by Trump, and by the Brexit campaign of 2016. It is a nice point that even anarchists can't duck the problem.

The 14 ideas with the same theme [self-rule by citizens, and abolition of government]:

539 Nothing is worse for mankind than anarchy [Antiphon]
5968 Diogenes masturbated in public, wishing he could get rid of hunger so easily [Diogenes of Sin., by Plutarch]
23163 In an anarchy universities, research, books, and even seaside holidays, would be impossible [Russell]
23168 A state is essential, to control greedy or predatory impulses [Russell]
21521 Anarchy does not maximise liberty [Russell]
23809 Our only social duty is to try to limit evil [Weil]
23870 Decentralisation is only possible by co-operation between strong and weak - which is absurd [Weil]
18642 Individual rights are so strong that the state and its officials must be very limited in power [Nozick]
20450 The state, law, bureaucracy and capital are limitations on life, so I prefer federalist anarchism [Critchley]
20452 Anarchism used to be libertarian (especially for sexuality), but now concerns responsibility [Critchley]
20487 A realistic and less utopian anarchism looks increasingly like liberal democracy [Wolff,J]
20488 It is hard for anarchists to deny that we need experts [Wolff,J]
20578 Anarchists prefer local and communal government [Oksala]
9391 Why do anarchists drink herbal tea? [Sommers,W]