Emma Goldman was a radical among radicals | Michael Malice and Lex Fridman

TL;DR

Emma Goldman, a radical anarchist, believed in violence as a means to level the playing field against oppressive governments and embraced the ultimate freedom of the individual.

Transcript

so in contrast to tolstoy uh let me ask you about emma goldman you wrote that if anarchism believed in rulers then emma goldman would be the undisputed queen yes what uh ideas define her flavor of anarchism would you say emma was really an old school radical she was a radical among radicals i don't know what ideas i mean what would diabetes would f... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔄 Emma Goldman was a radical anarchist who believed in using violence to counter oppressive governments.
• 🏛️ She was influenced by Johann Most's ideas on using dynamite as a weapon against the ruling class.
• 📁 Goldman disagreed with Berkman's attempted assassination and believed violence should be directed at the state, not individuals.
• 💡 She advocated for the ultimate freedom of the individual, opposing the idea of a corporate society where individuals are interchangeable.
• 😘 Goldman valued the valorization of the lowest of the low, showing compassion for the desperately poor.
• 😋 She believed that when property rights come between mass starvation and survival, prioritizing food over property is justifiable.
• 🪜 Goldman's size and demeanor added to her reputation, as she fearlessly challenged powerful figures.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were Emma Goldman's main ideas and how did they differ from Tolstoy's?

Emma Goldman believed in the use of violence to fight against oppressive governments, while Tolstoy advocated for non-violent resistance and pacifism.

Q: Who influenced Emma Goldman's thinking on violence?

Emma Goldman was influenced by Johann Most, who believed that dynamite was the only way for the working class to level the playing field against oppressive forces.

Q: Did Emma Goldman support violence in all circumstances?

While Goldman believed in the use of force during a revolution, she disagreed with Alexander Berkman's assassination attempt and believed that violence should not be directed at individuals but at the state and ruling class.

Q: How did Emma Goldman's size and demeanor contribute to her reputation?

Emma Goldman's small stature and feistiness made her an intriguing figure, as she fearlessly challenged prominent figures like Lenin, Wilson, and Hoover.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Emma Goldman was a radical among radicals, known for her advocacy of violence as a way to counter oppressive governments and police forces.

• She was influenced by Johann Most, who believed in using dynamite as a weapon against the ruling class.

• Goldman disagreed with Alexander Berkman's attempted assassination of Frick and had differing views on violence, but still acknowledged the necessity of force during a revolution.