Month: September 2012

Contr'un

From the neo-Proudhonian blogosphere

September 23, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Over at Mutualism and Solutions to the Social Problem, Derek has posted a new essay: “A Letter to Communists and Capitalists of the Libertarian Form.” And David at Blazing Truth has posted a “New Mutualist Manifesto.” Both are ambitious attempts to pull together diverse elements from the mutualist tradition and contemporary theory. Give them a look.
Contr'un

Jean Grave, The Adventures of Nono — Chapter V

September 23, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
THE ADVENTURES OF NONO by JEAN GRAVE [continued from Chapter IV]   V GLUTTONY PUNISHED The castle that the children headed towards stood on a broad, well-sanded esplanade, cut through large lawns, some of which were planted with trees. Under these trees those not at work harvesting fruit, or milking cows, had set some large, square tables, which, this evening, in honor of the new arrival, on been arrange end to end, but were ordinary set up apart from one another, covered with fine tablecloths, bearing plates and dishes embellished with simple designs in raw tones. Chairs indicated the place […]
fiction

Paschal Grousset, “The Dream of an Irreconcilable” (1869)

September 21, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
[one_third padding=”0 10px 0 0px”] [/one_third][two_third_last padding=”0 0px 0 10px”] I’ve posted a working translation of Paschal Grousset’s 1869 The Dream of an Irreconcilable, an odd little political “utopia” of sorts, which begins with the narrator falling asleep over his newspaper, as he reads the new revisions to the French constitution, explores in a novel fashion some of the details of a rather Paris Commune-like post-revolutionary future, and then ends with one last jab at the current regime. Translation is, in this case, simply the first step in making the work intelligible, since it is full to overflowing with topical […]
Anarchist Beginnings

Charles Fourier, Cardinal and the Principal Movements in the Harmony of the Universe

September 16, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
FOURIER. I am aware that it is very humiliating for an age in possession of so much physical and mathematical science, to be branded with ignorance concerning other branches of knowledge; to be openly accused of entertaining false notions on many subjects, and of not being initiated even in the most elementary details of several very important sciences; such, for instance, as the four following:— Industrial Association. Passional Attraction. Aromal Mechanism. Universal Analogy. If the pride of modern learning feel offended at this sweeping declaration, let it reflect upon the following table of distinctions in the branches of universal unity; […]
Contr'un

Proudhon, women, and the “organ of justice”

September 15, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
  Back in March, 2010, at the end of the essay “Two-Gun Mutualism and the Golden Rule,” I promised to delve deeper into the question of Proudhon’s writing on women and the family—a promise I’m in the midst of fulfilling in a series of essays destined for the second issue of The Mutualist—and in July of this year I posted a working translation of Proudhon’s “Catechism of Marriage”—a provocative act which apparently provoked nobody, judging from the resounding near-silence. (One friend did say “worse than I expected.”) There’s no question that, in many ways, the “Catechism” is pretty awful, in […]
Anarchist Beginnings

Charles Fourier, Framework for the Integral Study of Nature

September 12, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
FOURIER ON THE UNITY OF SYSTEM IN UNIVERSAL NATURE. Modern sophists, particularly in France, have generally aimed at explaining the unity of system which is remarkable in universal nature, and yet the philosophical world never was farther removed from the right line of study on this subject than at present. There is hardly a correct idea abroad concerning the fundamental basis of universalism or general unity, which may be thus resumed:— Unity of man with man, Unity of man with God, Unity of man with the universe. In this book it will be demonstrated that philosophers have either purposely or […]
Anarchist Beginnings

Charles Fourier, The Critical State of Civilization (2 of 2)

September 12, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
FOURIER, ON THE CRITICAL STATE OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE. There never was a greater want of useful discoveries in the civilized world than at present. Society is now afflicted with four disastrous elements of a comparatively modern date, which aggravate the primithve causes of human suffering. These modern elements of social misery are, 1. The new pestilence and its complications.[1] 2. The insalubrious effects of injudicious culture and the destruction of Forests. 3. The permanency of revolutionary ferment4. The alarming increase of public debts and stock-jobbing speculation. This quadruple plague proves that civilization and refinement are progressing like the lobster, […]
Anarchist Beginnings

Charles Fourier, The Critical State of Civilization (1 of 2)

September 12, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
[This section from The Treatise on Domestic-Agricultural Association immediately follows the material already posted from The Morning Star. It appeared in the November 25, 1840 issue (No. 6) of that paper.] FOURIER ON THE CRITICAL STATE OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE. ELEMENTS OF DECLINE IN THE POLITICAL WORLD.. The most recent and the most remarkable elements of decline in the political organization of society in Europe, are, national debts and revolutions, which generate each other. Our political doctors have hitherto failed in devising remedies for these social evils. As a check on the prodigality of national expenditure and the increase of […]
fiction

Five-sixths of a Smart Set set

September 11, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Over at From the Libertarian Library, I’ve added translations of two more of the short stories by Han Ryner published in French in The Smart Set: “The Cheapskate” (1913) “The Paradox” (1913) “The Secret of Don Juan” (1915) “Deo Optimo Maximo” (1919) “The Little Exile” (1920) Of the new pieces, one revolves around a bit of wordplay which translates fairly well, and the other is rather opaque in any language. All are entertaining, and together I think they give some indication of Ryner’s breadth as a writer of fiction. The sixth story was not available online, and I’ve sent of […]
fiction

Han Ryner, Deo Optimo Maximo (1919)

September 11, 2012 Shawn P. Wilbur
Deo Optimo Maximo By Han Ryner L’HOMME parle: O Dieu, tu ne saurais m’entendre, et pourtant je te parle. Comme il m’arrive de parler à Hélène, à don Quichotte, à Faust, ou à quelque autre de mes fils. Mais à plusieurs de mes fils je parle en me glorifiant, car je leur ai donné le trésor d’immortalité. Toi à qui je n’ai su donner que la pauvre éternité, je te parle en humilité inquiète. O mon fils que j’appelais Père, je n’ai pas su te créer viable, et, voici que tu es mort. Lorsque je te créai Dieu, je ne […]