Thesis (B.A.Hons. 1978) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Politics, 1977.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2003. / Also available online.

This diploma thesis aims to find out what the human solidarity means and how it is created in expression of mutual aid with support in Kropotkin's conception of mutual aid. The thesis acquaints a reader with Kropotkin and his theory of mutual aid presented in the book Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution. It follows up Kropotkin's crucial thoughts and the theory of mutual aid in related contexts. Next it interprets the solidarity as a structure and as a process and describes them in details. The thesis also substantiates the discipline Psychosocial Crisis Co-operation, particularly its starting point that men have helped each other from time immemorial.

This thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge by presenting an analysis of anarchist conceptions of solidarity. Whilst recent academic literature has conceptualised solidarity from a range of perspectives, anarchist interpretations have largely been marginalised or ignored. This neglect is unjustified, for thinkers of the anarchist tradition have often emphasised solidarity as a key principle, and have offered original and instructive accounts of this important but contested political concept. In a global era which has seen the role of the nation state significantly reduced, anarchism, which consists in a fundamental critique and rejection of hierarchical state-like institutions, can provide a rich source of theory on the meaning and significance of solidarity. The work consists in detailed analyses of the concepts of solidarity of four prominent anarchist thinkers: Michael Bakunin, Peter Kropotkin, Murray Bookchin and Noam Chomsky. The analytic investigation is led by Michael Freeden s methodology of ideological morphology , whereby ideologies are viewed as peculiar configurations of political concepts, which are themselves constituted by sub-conceptual idea-components. Working within this framework, the analysis seeks to ascertain the way in which each thinker attaches particular meanings to the concept of solidarity, and to locate solidarity within their wider ideological system. Subsequently, the thesis offers a representative profile of an anarchist concept of solidarity, which is characterised by notions of universal inclusion, collective responsibility and the social production of individuality.

L'ambition qui préside à l'élaboration de ce travail est double : d'abord confronter une lecture précise de Kropotkine (1842-1921) à ce qu'en dit le post-anarchisme, lequel se fait fort de renouveler la compréhension de l'anarchisme à l'aide des outils légués par les auteurs post-modernes français ; ensuite reprendre le dossier de l'antinaturalisme dans la critique sociale. Nous soutenons dans cette thèse que loin de manifester une impasse pour tout discours qui voudrait dessiner les voies d'un changement radical de société, la notion de «  nature humaine  » telle que l'emploie Kropotkine offre de nombreux outils pour œuvrer dans cette direction. À la fois géographe et évolutionniste, Kropotkine ouvre la nature humaine en direction de la nature globale, et plus précisément du legs coopératif de l'évolution des espèces, à l'inverse de toute crispation essentialiste. C'est sur ce legs sans cesse retravaillé en fonction des contextes dans lesquels l'humain est conduit à vivre qu'il convient de s'appuyer pour contrer les effets de réductionnismes ruineux tels que le darwinisme social ou la sociobiologie. Conformément à la dimension fondationnaliste de la pensée de Kropotkine, la thèse s'organise de manière systématique autour de la notion de «  nature humaine  ». Après avoir posé les bases scientifiques de l'anarchie (I) nous travaillons les thèmes darwiniens de l'œuvre kropotkinienne (II). Le socle théorique est alors consistant afin d'établir des conséquences pratiques, du côté de la politique, de l'économie et de l'urbanisme (III). À l'intérieur du contexte ainsi défini, c'est aux réalisations supérieures de la morale et de l'art que nous finissons par nous intéresser (IV). / This work deals with two main issues  : first, it focuses on the way post-anarchism, which claims renewing the understanding of anarchism through the use of french post-modernists' concepts, depicts P. Kropotkin's thought  ; second, it addresses the anti-naturalistic trend within the frame of social criticism. We argue that far from standing as a hindrance to supporting radical social change, Kropotkin's view of human nature yields many tools in order to fuel such a change. Both a geographer and an evolutionist, Kropotkin includes human nature within the overall frame of nature itself, specifically within the evolution of species' cooperative legacy. This legacy has been continuously shaped within the different living contexts built by human being throughout his history. So there's nothing static about human nature, and the ever-evolving cooperative legacy provides tools to criticize reductionist ways of thinking such as social darwinism or sociobiology. According to Kropotkin's foundationalist bias, the thesis is systematically organized around the notion of «  human nature  ». First, we lay the scientific basis of anarchy (Part I), then we focus on darwinian themes (Part II). Once firmly grounded, Kropotkin's thought unfolds more accurately its practical consequences, addressing politics, economy and city planning (Part III). These three domains give shape to the contexts within which ethics and art should bring out the best in human nature (Part IV).

Proponho apresentar alguns conceitos fundamentais do pensamento de Peter Kropotkin. Este trabalho buscou encontrar um caminho satisfatório para a compreensão da percepção de Peter Kropotkin, naquilo que transcorre sua concepção da história. Peter Kropotkin parte diante da história do anarquismo, para dar forma e conteúdo a sua teoria da história. Estudamos as interpretações do autor, sobre pressupostos como: a ética, a moral, o Estado, a ciência, o evolucionismo e a revolução na história. Sendo que todas essas noções foram entendidas dentro de uma perspectiva histórica, anunciando os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin. Na primeira parte da dissertação é construída uma abordagem biográfica sobre o autor, mostrando alguns acontecimentos que marcaram suas escolhas ideológicas e seu engajamento revolucionário. Nesse primeiro momento podemos perceber a trajetória do atuante construída por meio de um debate, que leva em consideração algumas elaborações evidenciadas em seu contexto, através de uma análise crítica sobre a construção de uma ética e de uma moral, diante das consequências que tais meios revolucionários podem acarretar, deturpando os seus fins. Na segunda parte do trabalho são discutidos os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin, sobre um ponto de vista que coloca as abordagens do autor em diálogo com outras formas de pensar a história, possibilitando aproximações e afastamentos diante desses enfoques, nos trazendo uma discussão um pouco mais profunda diante dessas problemáticas. Portanto, podemos observar tanto a importância de Peter Kropotkin, dentro daquilo que ele ainda pode nos oferecer, para se pensar alguns conceitos de história, quanto sugerir alguns dos limites que suas colocações podem ocasionar, de sorte que ao mesmo tempo destacamos o seu legado diante de seus contestadores. / I propose to present some fundamental concepts of Peter Kropotkin's thought. This work sought to find a satisfactory path for the understanding of Peter Kropotkin 's perception, in the course of his conception of history. Peter Kropotkin sets out on the history of anarchism to give shape and content to his theory of history. We study the interpretations of the author, on assumptions such as: ethics, morality, state, science, evolutionism and revolution in history. Since all these notions were understood within a historical perspective, announcing the concepts of Peter Kropotkin. In the first part of the dissertation is constructed a biographical approach on the author, showing some events that marked his ideological choices and his revolutionary engagement. In this first moment we can perceive the trajectory of the actuant constructed through a debate, which takes into account some elaborations evidenced in its context, through a critical analysis on the construction of an ethics and a moral, in the face of the consequences that such revolutionary means Can be detrimental to their ends. In the second part of the paper the concepts of Peter Kropotkin are discussed, from a point of view that puts the author's approaches in dialogue with other ways of thinking about history, allowing approximations and departures from these approaches, bringing us a somewhat deeper discussion Facing these problems. So we can see both the importance of Peter Kropotkin, in what he can still offer us, to think of some concepts of history, as to suggest some of the limits that his positions can cause, so that at the same time we highlight his legacy before Of their answering machines.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of History, August 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Proponho apresentar alguns conceitos fundamentais do pensamento de Peter Kropotkin. Este trabalho buscou encontrar um caminho satisfatório para a compreensão da percepção de Peter Kropotkin, naquilo que transcorre sua concepção da história. Peter Kropotkin parte diante da história do anarquismo, para dar forma e conteúdo a sua teoria da história. Estudamos as interpretações do autor, sobre pressupostos como: a ética, a moral, o Estado, a ciência, o evolucionismo e a revolução na história. Sendo que todas essas noções foram entendidas dentro de uma perspectiva histórica, anunciando os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin. Na primeira parte da dissertação é construída uma abordagem biográfica sobre o autor, mostrando alguns acontecimentos que marcaram suas escolhas ideológicas e seu engajamento revolucionário. Nesse primeiro momento podemos perceber a trajetória do atuante construída por meio de um debate, que leva em consideração algumas elaborações evidenciadas em seu contexto, através de uma análise crítica sobre a construção de uma ética e de uma moral, diante das consequências que tais meios revolucionários podem acarretar, deturpando os seus fins. Na segunda parte do trabalho são discutidos os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin, sobre um ponto de vista que coloca as abordagens do autor em diálogo com outras formas de pensar a história, possibilitando aproximações e afastamentos diante desses enfoques, nos trazendo uma discussão um pouco mais profunda diante dessas problemáticas. Portanto, podemos observar tanto a importância de Peter Kropotkin, dentro daquilo que ele ainda pode nos oferecer, para se pensar alguns conceitos de história, quanto sugerir alguns dos limites que suas colocações podem ocasionar, de sorte que ao mesmo tempo destacamos o seu legado diante de seus contestadores. / I propose to present some fundamental concepts of Peter Kropotkin's thought. This work sought to find a satisfactory path for the understanding of Peter Kropotkin 's perception, in the course of his conception of history. Peter Kropotkin sets out on the history of anarchism to give shape and content to his theory of history. We study the interpretations of the author, on assumptions such as: ethics, morality, state, science, evolutionism and revolution in history. Since all these notions were understood within a historical perspective, announcing the concepts of Peter Kropotkin. In the first part of the dissertation is constructed a biographical approach on the author, showing some events that marked his ideological choices and his revolutionary engagement. In this first moment we can perceive the trajectory of the actuant constructed through a debate, which takes into account some elaborations evidenced in its context, through a critical analysis on the construction of an ethics and a moral, in the face of the consequences that such revolutionary means Can be detrimental to their ends. In the second part of the paper the concepts of Peter Kropotkin are discussed, from a point of view that puts the author's approaches in dialogue with other ways of thinking about history, allowing approximations and departures from these approaches, bringing us a somewhat deeper discussion Facing these problems. So we can see both the importance of Peter Kropotkin, in what he can still offer us, to think of some concepts of history, as to suggest some of the limits that his positions can cause, so that at the same time we highlight his legacy before Of their answering machines.

Proponho apresentar alguns conceitos fundamentais do pensamento de Peter Kropotkin. Este trabalho buscou encontrar um caminho satisfatório para a compreensão da percepção de Peter Kropotkin, naquilo que transcorre sua concepção da história. Peter Kropotkin parte diante da história do anarquismo, para dar forma e conteúdo a sua teoria da história. Estudamos as interpretações do autor, sobre pressupostos como: a ética, a moral, o Estado, a ciência, o evolucionismo e a revolução na história. Sendo que todas essas noções foram entendidas dentro de uma perspectiva histórica, anunciando os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin. Na primeira parte da dissertação é construída uma abordagem biográfica sobre o autor, mostrando alguns acontecimentos que marcaram suas escolhas ideológicas e seu engajamento revolucionário. Nesse primeiro momento podemos perceber a trajetória do atuante construída por meio de um debate, que leva em consideração algumas elaborações evidenciadas em seu contexto, através de uma análise crítica sobre a construção de uma ética e de uma moral, diante das consequências que tais meios revolucionários podem acarretar, deturpando os seus fins. Na segunda parte do trabalho são discutidos os conceitos de Peter Kropotkin, sobre um ponto de vista que coloca as abordagens do autor em diálogo com outras formas de pensar a história, possibilitando aproximações e afastamentos diante desses enfoques, nos trazendo uma discussão um pouco mais profunda diante dessas problemáticas. Portanto, podemos observar tanto a importância de Peter Kropotkin, dentro daquilo que ele ainda pode nos oferecer, para se pensar alguns conceitos de história, quanto sugerir alguns dos limites que suas colocações podem ocasionar, de sorte que ao mesmo tempo destacamos o seu legado diante de seus contestadores. / I propose to present some fundamental concepts of Peter Kropotkin's thought. This work sought to find a satisfactory path for the understanding of Peter Kropotkin 's perception, in the course of his conception of history. Peter Kropotkin sets out on the history of anarchism to give shape and content to his theory of history. We study the interpretations of the author, on assumptions such as: ethics, morality, state, science, evolutionism and revolution in history. Since all these notions were understood within a historical perspective, announcing the concepts of Peter Kropotkin. In the first part of the dissertation is constructed a biographical approach on the author, showing some events that marked his ideological choices and his revolutionary engagement. In this first moment we can perceive the trajectory of the actuant constructed through a debate, which takes into account some elaborations evidenced in its context, through a critical analysis on the construction of an ethics and a moral, in the face of the consequences that such revolutionary means Can be detrimental to their ends. In the second part of the paper the concepts of Peter Kropotkin are discussed, from a point of view that puts the author's approaches in dialogue with other ways of thinking about history, allowing approximations and departures from these approaches, bringing us a somewhat deeper discussion Facing these problems. So we can see both the importance of Peter Kropotkin, in what he can still offer us, to think of some concepts of history, as to suggest some of the limits that his positions can cause, so that at the same time we highlight his legacy before Of their answering machines.

Some contemporary anarchist scholarship has rejected the Enlightenment-inspired reliance on reason that was supposedly central to classical anarchist thought and expanded the anarchist critique to address issues ignored by their classical predecessors. In making reason the object of critique, some contemporary anarchists expanded the anarchist framework to include critiques of domination residing outside the traditional power centers of the state, the capitalist firm, and the church thereby shedding light on the authoritarian tendencies inherent in the intellect itself. Though contemporary anarchist scholarship has sought to apply this anti-authoritarian ethos to the realms of epistemology and ontology (by employing Michel Foucault’s analysis of power and other postfoundational thinkers), their own framework of analysis is glaringly susceptible to what Habermas called a “performative contradiction.” In questioning the authority of aspects of even our own intellect (and the epistemological and ontological presuppositions that accompany it) we call into question even the authority of our own argumentation. I answer this “contradiction” by interrogating two intellectual traditions. Firstly, I question a key postfoundational anarchist premise. Namely, I assess whether an understanding of classical anarchist thinkers as quintessential children of the Enlightenment is justified. Secondly, I offer an alternative path to reconciliation between the anti-authoritarian values of the anarchists and the anti-metaphysical values of the postfoundationalists (that I think mirrors anarchist anti-authoritarian concerns) by suggesting we are better served to think of an anti-authoritarianism of the intellect by employing three key twentieth century thinkers: Richard Rorty, Paul Feyerabend, and Ludwig Wittgenstein. I do so while anchoring Rorty’s, Feyerabend’s, and Wittgenstein’s philosophies in the 19th century anti-metaphysical thought of Friedrich Nietzsche and the philosophical anarchism of Max Stirner.