Encounters with Anarchist Individualism: Bigger on the Inside

From Libertarian Labyrinth by Shawn P. Wilbur

After a rather lengthy delay, I’m settling down to some projects that I had initially intended to begin back in January. As it happens, all three of the tasks at the top of the pile — work on Proudhon’s Justice, an edition of E. Armand’s Anarchist Individualist Initiation and Sociology [Reconstructed], an anthology of the works of Lewis Masquerier — called for the careful comparison of multiple versions of the texts involved. It’s a variety of work that I really enjoy, “when the fit takes me,” but it doesn’t take me all the time.

Encounters with Anarchist Individualism

From Libertarian Labyrinth by Shawn P. Wilbur

I must have written a dozen variations on this theme over the last few years, as I have gradually refined my ideas about anarchism-in-general. Those familiar with my past work will recognize a variety of allusions, going back to the decade-old work on “the anarchic encounter,” which once enjoyed a certain pride of place in the revived theory of anarchistic mutualism. The notion of the encounter as a fundamental element of anarchist practice is one that I have returned to quite a number of times over the years, both on the blog and in my notebooks. Towards the end of Constructing Anarchisms, I went so far as to posit the encounter as essentially the whole of anarchist practice.

“A Web of Relations & Tensions” — interview with Return Fire

These questions were completed, as requested, for the first release of No Path[1] – a project aiming to make more links between the ‘anti-civilisation’ and ‘anti-speciesist’ strands in the anarchist world. The invitation to participate was very welcome, and it seemed a good opportunity to offer critical engagement with these tendencies, as well as talk about the upcoming Return Fire book which No Path had taken interest in. However, when the ‘zine went to print, No Path wrote to say that the fifth question and answer (the one relating to the focus of their project) had been cut, citing lack of space. Here is the unabridged version of the interview. For copies of No Path #1 (which will otherwise be offline only), email them at nopath[at]riseup.net

A Direct Response To An Indirect Jab

I hadn’t read anything by Flower Bomb for quite a while, until yesterday, but yesterday I read their piece Egoist Vegan: Some Thoughts on an Individualist Animal Liberation and feel to respond directly to the piece here. Before I do so, I want to make it clear that I am not seeking to attack any individual (or lifestyle) (not even Flower Bomb) for not living an ideal or puritanically ethically perfect life, especially given the context of attempting to survive amidst the humiliation and brutality of this planetary death camp – even outside of this context, I don’t believe such an ideal or pure-ethical-life is real. I am entirely oriented towards radical-individualism as radical-pluralism/diversity (in a non-anthropocentric sense) and feel inclined towards affirming different means of survival within this context.

A Dagger of Feral Anarchy

by Flower Bomb

I remember once over-hearing a conversation in which there was a debate between using “post-left” or “anti-left” to describe anarchy beyond leftism. I thought this was an interesting conversation because it reminded me of how I once viewed and related to anarchy. I remember having viewed anarchy as a world to create, necessitating the organization of others to materialize it. Over time my relationship to anarchy shifted. Soon I found myself relating to anarchy as a sense of feral becoming – a personal revolt that placed emphasis on self – responsibility rather than co-dependence on others. This shift came from the understanding that people are not a singular mass herd of mindless followers but instead unique, complex individuals capable of independent thought, decisions, and actions. For me, anarchy beyond leftism abandons the idea that people are in need of organized leadership, and puts forward an understanding of how people discover their own power best when they’re governed, organized, or controlled the least.

From Stirner to Mussolini

From C4SS by William Gillis

Review: The Anarchist-Individualist Origins of Italian Fascism

In 1910 Luigi Fabbri and Armando Borghi abducted an anarchist woman who had shamed their friend by divorcing him. Together, they forced her into a gynecological exam so the doctor could publicly pronounce her deformed and incapable of sex.

More Deathscythe on Immediatism Podcast

In response to having one of his essays arrive in the All-Time Top Ten at Immediatism.com (episode 726 "All People"), Sir Josephine Deathscythe has produced four new essays which have been read on Immediatism podcast. These essays are short, to the point, and very opinionated, in the style of editorials. "Housing, etc.," while ostensibly addressing the housing crisis in Deathscythe's country, asks a larger question -- What is our obligation in opposing the state, as anarchists? We oppose the state but does that mean refusing everything it shoves our way?

S.E. Parker & other Enemies, on Immediatism

For fans of Sidney Parker, Immediatism now has eight episodes of his essays. To read these and more, check out "Enemies of Society: An Anthology of Individualist and Egoist Thought," from Ardent Press and Little Black Cart, containing nearly eighty essays and biographical pieces. Highlights are episode 457, which looks at the myth of the People or Workers who will supposedly rise up in revolution, and episode 461, which makes comparisons between Marxism and fascism.

Listed below are the S. E. Parker episodes first, followed by other Enemies of Society.

Okty Budiati on Immediatism podcast

Okty Budiati is an individualist and nihilist anarchist in Indonesia. A performance artist and photographer, she has turned toward writing while confined to a safehouse in Jakarta. Okty has written a number of pieces for The Anarchist Libraries SE Asia. These two Immediatism episodes feature Okty's English writings, with the rest to be translated soon. Okty writes of anti-identity and self-defense in My Home Is My Broken Heart. Her Libertine Monologue Correlation Imagination is also titled "Who Slips and Who is Lonely."

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