Anarchism and analytic philosophy

Franks, B. (2012) Anarchism and analytic philosophy. In: Kinna, R. (ed.) The Continuum Companion to Anarchism. Series: Continuum companions. Continuum: New York, NY, pp. 53-74. ISBN 9781441172129

Abstract

Analytic philosophy is the major methodological current within Anglo-American philosophical institutions, and thereby has enormous impact on the sub-discipline of political philosophy. This chapter describes its main features and how analytic political philosophy identifies anarchism. Thus, this chapter (i) explains why this approach is fraught with difficulty because it maintains and exacerbates certain damaging sociological divisions; (ii) describes and assesses the methodological assumptions about the nature of logical analysis, and the discovery of universal principles; and (iii) demonstrates that the impact of these weaknesses in the analytic method produces a trivial account of anarchism. By contrast (iv) an alternative mode of analysis, based on Michael Freeden’s ‘conceptual approach’, is demonstrated to be more sophisticated and accurate in delineating the main anarchist currents.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: anarchism, analytic philosophy, conceptual analysis, philosophical anarchism
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Franks, Dr Benjamin
• Authors: Franks, B.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Publisher: Continuum
• ISBN: 9781441172129