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Single Idea 23870

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

Full Idea

The only possibility of salvation would lie in a co-operation between weak and strong, with a view to accomplishing a progressive decentralisation of social life; but the absurdity of such an idea strikes one immediately.

Gist of Idea

Decentralisation is only possible by co-operation between strong and weak - which is absurd

Source

Simone Weil (Reflections on Liberty and Social Oppression [1934], p.113)

Book Ref

Weil,Simone: 'Oppression and Liberty' [Routledge 1955], p.113

A Reaction

I take this to be a judgement on the anarchist ideal, rather than a bit of modest devolution. The UK government set up regional parliaments. She says centralisation is remorseless.

The 27 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]
24426 The believers were united, and renounced possessions, which they shared in common [Luke]
24439 Authority is unnatural, and social ills are because we cannot act according to reason [Godwin, by Woodcock]
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]
24190 Anarchists thought (hopelessly) that empowering the oppressed would end evil [Weil]
23870 Decentralisation is only possible by co-operation between strong and weak - which is absurd [Weil]
24436 True anarchists accept society, which is more important without a government [Woodcock]
24400 People are sociable and self-sufficient; if that is not so, why allow men to rule others? [Walter]
24399 Anarchism is the political expression of the common reaction against authority [Walter]
24402 Liberals and socialists want government, which suppresses either equality, or freedom [Walter]
24406 Mutualism is the voluntary formation of groups of people, seen as equals [Walter]
24407 Anarchists co-ordinate their mutualist groups into a federation [Walter]
24408 Syndicalism expands worker control through enhanced and widespread trade unions [Walter]
24409 Syndicalism overemphsises work, and the role of the working class [Walter]
24404 Anarchists want organisation by consent, so there will be more planning, not less [Walter]
24413 An anarchist has no country, since he views all governments in an equal light [Wolff,RP]
24412 States have a right to rule, but autonomous people refuse to be ruled. Hence Anarchism [Wolff,RP]
18642 Individual rights are so strong that the state and its officials must be very limited in power [Nozick]
20452 Anarchism used to be libertarian (especially for sexuality), but now concerns responsibility [Critchley]
20450 The state, law, bureaucracy and capital are limitations on life, so I prefer federalist anarchism [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]