Benjamin Tucker

Benjamin Tucker

Benjamin Ricketson Tucker (April 17, 1854 – June 22, 1939) was an American anarchist and libertarian socialist. He was a leading proponent of individualist anarchism in the 19th century and a prominent figure in the anarchist movement in the United States.

Early Life

Benjamin Tucker was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to a Quaker family. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied engineering. However, his interests soon turned towards political philosophy and social issues.

Anarchist Philosophy

Tucker was heavily influenced by the works of Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. He believed in the sovereignty of the individual and advocated for a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid. Tucker's philosophy was rooted in the idea of "anarchism without adjectives," emphasizing the importance of individual liberty and personal responsibility.

Key Concepts

• Egoism: Tucker was influenced by the philosophy of Max Stirner, particularly the concept of egoism, which emphasizes the individual's self-interest as the primary motivation for actions.
• Mutualism: He supported mutualism, a form of anarchism that advocates for a society where people exchange goods and services based on mutually beneficial agreements.
• Free Market: Tucker believed in a free market without government intervention, where individuals could freely trade and compete.

Liberty Magazine

In 1881, Tucker founded the influential anarchist periodical Liberty. The magazine served as a platform for Tucker to express his ideas and critique the state, capitalism, and organized religion. Liberty published works by various anarchists and libertarians, including Voltairine de Cleyre, Dyer Lum, and Victor Yarros.

Critique of Capitalism

Tucker was a vocal critic of capitalism, which he saw as a system that allowed for the exploitation of labor through monopolistic practices. He argued that true free markets, free from state intervention, would lead to a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

Later Life and Legacy

In his later years, Tucker moved to France, where he continued to write and correspond with fellow anarchists. He remained active in the anarchist movement until his death in 1939.

Tucker's work has had a lasting impact on the development of libertarian and anarchist thought. His ideas continue to influence contemporary discussions on individual liberty, free markets, and the role of the state.

See Also

• Anarchism in the United States
• Individualist anarchism
• Libertarian socialism

References

• Martin, James J. Men Against the State: The Expositors of Individualist Anarchism in America, 1827-1908. Ralph Myles Publisher, 1970.
• McElroy, Wendy. The Debates of Liberty: An Overview of Individualist Anarchism, 1881-1908. Lexington Books, 2003.

External Links

• Benjamin Tucker at Libertarianism.org
• Works by Benjamin Tucker at The Anarchist Library