Definition of anarchism - what is anarchism

Different definitions of anarchism - definitions of anarchism:

The term anarchism comes from the Greek ἄναρχος, anarchos, which means "without rulers", "without archons". There is some ambiguity in the use of the terms "libertarian" and "libertarian" in writings on anarchism. From the 1890s in France, the term "libertarianism" was often used as a synonym for anarchism, and was used almost exclusively in that sense until the 1950s in the United States; its use as a synonym is still common outside the United States.

Definition of anarchism from various sources:

In a broader sense, it is a theory of a society without any coercive power in any area - government, business, industry, commerce, religion, education, family.

— Definition of Anarchism: The Oxford Companion to Philosophy

Anarchism is a political philosophy that views the state as undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society or anarchy.

— Definition of anarchism: McLaughlin, Paul. Anarchism and power.

Anarchism is the view that a society without a state or government is possible and desirable.

— Definition of anarchism in: The Shorter Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Anarchism, according to the anti-state definition, is the belief that "a society without a state or government is possible and desirable."

— Definition of anarchism: George Crowder, Anarchism, Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

According to the anti-authoritarian definition, anarchism is the belief that power as such is illegitimate and must be overcome in its entirety.

— Definition of Anarchism: George Woodcock, Anarchism, A History of Libertarian Ideas and Movements.

Anarchism is best defined as skepticism towards authority. An anarchist is a skeptic in the political arena.

— Defining Anarchism: Anarchism and Power, Paul McLaughlin.

Definition of anarchism

Anarchism is defined in various ways. Negatively, it is defined as the renunciation of government, government, state, authority, society, or domination. More rarely, anarchism has been positively defined as a theory of voluntary association, decentralization, federalism, freedom, and so on. This begs the main question: can any seemingly simplistic definition of anarchism be satisfactory. John P. Kluck argues that this is not possible: "Any definition that reduces anarchism to a single dimension, such as its critical element, must be found grossly inadequate."

A definition of anarchism such as "anarchism is an ideology of non-authoritarianism" would suffice, even if it seems to simplify anarchism or reduce it to its critical element.