36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors. ’For the things concerning Me have an end.”
Trying to explain “anarcho-realism”
Matthew Dominic Hunter
Jun 18, 2017·2 min read
I’ve long been attracted to certain aspects of anarchism, but I also think that implementing an anarchist society is impractical. Like so many idealisms, it could only work if everybody bought into it, and if all the potential wrinkles could be ironed out consensually. I could say the same thing about libertarianism, or socialism.
In other words, I’m not idealistic about anarchism (or other ideologies). I’m realistic. Look at the world with our 7.4 billion humans, divided into our various countries, cultures, languages, identities, ethnicities, religions, ideologies, classes, etc., with our limited and unfairly distributed resources. Add into this mix a cup of concern for the other millions of species sharing this world with ours, and another cup of concern for the global/solar climate that supports all life on earth. Then, accept that you are only one human and can only act within each moment, ultimately without the ability to control all the outcomes. What is a realistic approach to solving your problems, the problems of those you care about, and the problems of all the other living beings and environmental systems on this planet?
I think the only realistic conclusion is that nobody is in charge, and that nobody can be in charge, of all these interconnected things. So, anarchism is the reality of our universe. Anarcho-realism means nobody is in charge.
Some humans set up organizations, governments, laws, religions, schools, businesses, political parties, families, teams, etc., as efforts to work together toward common goals. Sometimes, some of these goals are met, at least for a while. But the reality is always messy. Wars, recessions, poverty, crime, addiction, sickness, overpopulation, desertion, bankruptcies, corruption, hypocrisy, sociopathy, insanity, and ultimately everything dies, every organization collapses. Sustainability is a mirage. Progress, where it exists, is situational, relative, and temporary.
Anarcho-realism is about realizing that nobody is in charge and nothing will last forever. So, you do what you can while you can: to survive if/while you can, to enjoy a bit of life if/while you can, to help others if/while you can.
This might sound dark. Or it might sound liberating. But neither of these “sounds” matter! Your attitude toward reality doesn’t change reality. Reality is and does what it is and does. You still can only act within each moment, and you still cannot control all the outcomes.
