Anarchism and rational autonomy

[EqualityandFreedom]

Can someone be an anarchist but not believe or have a radically reduced view of rational autonomy (i.e. that a persons beliefs and behaviours are or at very least largely determined by social, economic etc. influences instead of the person acquiring them through rational decision making by the individual.) In other words can one be anarchist if they deny that decisions by an individual are 'free' not just in the fuzzy philosophical sense of determinism vs free will, but also in the sense that they are determined by external influences and not the individual?

* Sorry if this is confusing

[rebelmouse]

say one example so I can answer better.
decisions of individual are welcomed always, for his own life and for community life. so I don't see what is problem. nobody said that individual should be free ONLY as part of society, of course every individual can follow his needs and live alone if he wants so, and create decisions for himself. important is only that his decisions about his freedom don't damage freedom of other people.
foe example, copenhagen is today anarchits city, I can make decisions for myself. I can just sit and enjoy on the beach or I can work something for my soul or I can work for community. Personally, I belong to responsible people, so I would find everyday something what should be done for community and I would work about 4 hours, 5 days in a week. of course, if I am younger and not so much mentally destroyed by the system, I would work even 8 hours per day. but my life was hard, so I don't have nerves anymore to work manual work more than 3-4 hours per day. computer work I can do 12 hours per day, so maybe I would find something like it.
so as you see, every individual choose and decide for himself inside of community/society, on the basis of his capabilities and needs. I say for myself, manual work I could do 3 hours per day, computer work 8 hours. and I don't see any problem about my freedom (and decisions) inside of anarchist society. it is about work, it is the same about other things: I like free love, I would never make problem to girl if she wants to have one more man. her choice, her freedom and autonomy.

of course, people are people, they are not automatically 100% anarchists even if they support anarchism, so, life is learning process, we must deal with problems in daily life. so, there will be people who will be hegemonic, they will try to push you to be the same as they are, but it is responsibility and consciousness of individuals to fight for their autonomy and freedom. one example is freedom of partner (mostly woman) today in anarchist/marxist communities: man don't let woman to be with other man even theoretically they give freedom to women. but men will always give themselves right to use any chance to be with one more woman. so, there is a problem that women will not fight for their freedom and autonomy than they will adapt themselves and avoid to disturb community. in that way men are the main, even theoretically women are equal with men. so, as you see, individuals must fight against problems, they should not adapt themselves.
so, I think there is no perfect anarchist society where everybody respect freedom of others, than even in anarchist society people must fight for themselves when they feel that their autonomy or freedom is attacked or limited because of acting of other person/s. therefore it is very important to learn to solve problems in anarchist way: including of community in finding of solution, if individuals can't solve problems alone.

[yuon]

So, you are opposing two things (settings two things in opposition to each other):

A person is a free and rational individual, who can make decisions without being adversely (adverse to the rationality aspect) affected in their decision making process, by others in a community, or external events.
A person is always influenced by external events, and others in a community, and it is absurd to think that they are never influenced by such.


Well, I think it is absurd to think that humans aren't social animals, influenced, even to the extent that it adversely affects an individuals decision making processes, by others around them.

And I'm an anarchist.

Most of the time it is only right-wing "rational libertarians" (or Lockeans) who believe that humans aren't affected (even adversely) in their thought processes by others.

However, it is possible to be an individualist, and still recognise that humans are social animals, and will work and live in communities, no matter the social structure.

:cool::closedeyes:

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Well I would say peoples actions are determined mostly by their environment.

[Durruti's Ghost]

I heard about a series of psychological studies that showed that roughly a third of people's actions can be attributed to their environments and a third to biological predispositions. This leaves just a third to choice or chance. So, it seems that the majority of the time, at least, we aren't really in control of our actions. Recognizing this to be the case does not endanger my anarchism in the slightest--indeed, it strengthens it by giving me empirical grounds on which to challenge the morality of institutions of retributive punishment.