Mikhail Bakunin: The Philosophical Basis of His Anarchism

280 Pages·2004·1.55 MB·English

by  Paul McLaughlin

MIKHAIL BAKUNIN:

THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS OF HIS ANARCHISM

MIKHAIL BAKUNIN:

THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS OF HIS ANARCHISM

PAUL MCLAUGHLIN

Algora Publishing
New York
© 2002 by Algora Publishing.
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ISBN: 1-892941-84-8 (softcover)
ISBN: 1-892941-85-6 (hardcover)

Library of Congress Card Number: 2002-001934

McLaughlin, Paul.
Mikhail Bakunin : the philosophical basis of his anarchism /
by Paul McLaughlin.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-892941-84-8 (alk. paper)
1. Bakunin, Mikhail Aleksandrovich, 1814-1876. I. Title.
HX914.7.B34 M35 2002
335'.83—dc21
2002001934

Printed in the United States

Front Cover: Portrait of Bakunin (1814 - 1876)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

Bakunin as Philosopher? 1
Marxist Analysis 2
Liberal Analysis 6
Two Further Considerations 12
The Structure of the Essay 14
Notes to Introduction 16

PART ONE:
BAKUNIN'S DIALECTIC AND THE CRITIQUE OF SPECULATION 21
1.1 The Reaction in Germany: Freedom and its Opponents 21
1.2 The Reaction in Context 23
1.3 Democracy and Revolution 29
1.4 Revolution and Metaphysics 30
1.5 Consistent and 'Mediating' Reaction 35
1.6 Objections 40
1.7 Historical Logics: Bakunin and Kuhn 42
1.8 Popular Revolution 46
1.9 The Negative Dialectic 48
1.10 Toward Revolutionary Action 53
1.11 Preface to Hegel's Gymnasial Lectures: Toward Naturalism 62
1.12 Negation: Bakunin and Bauer 68
1.13 Bakunin and Proudhon: Toward Anarchism 71
Notes to Part One 75

IX
PART TWO:
BAKUNIN'S NATURALISM AND THE CRITIQUE OF THEOLOGISM 103
2.1 The Totality of Nature 103
2.2 'Dialectics' and 'Materialism' 106
2.3 Natural Order and the 'Divine Legislator' 109
2.4 The Totality of Science 111
2.5 The Logic of Materialism 116
2.6 The Genesis of Religion 122
2.7 Reason, Freedom, and History 125
2.8 Fetishism, Polytheism, and Monotheism 130
2.9 The Development of Christianity 137
2.10 Christianity, Reason, and Freedom 141
2.11 Forms of Christian Faith 147
2.12 Bakunin and Kant 151
2.13 Bakunin and Hegel 155
2.14 Bakunin and Feuerbach: On Religion 161
2.15 Interlude: Bakunin and Marx 165
2.16 Bakunin and Feuerbach: On Philosophy 186
2.17 Interlude: Bakunin and Marx Revisited 194
2.18 Bakunin and Feuerbach: On Naturalism 197
2.19 Bakunin and Comte 206
Notes to Part Two 228

CONCLUSION 247
Notes to Conclusion 253

Select Bibliography 255

Index of Names 267
X