An unfinished manuscript written by Mikhail Bakunin around 1871 and published posthumously in 1882, arguing that the idea of a divine authority ruling creation and the idea of a state authority ruling its subjects both train human beings into the same habit of submission, so that rejecting one without rejecting the other leaves the underlying instinct for domination intact. Its central line, that if God really existed it would be necessary to abolish him, became one of the most quoted statements of anarchist anti-clericalism.
Facts
Publication YearWritten in draft around 1871 and left unfinished at a point mid-argument; first published posthumously in 1882 by his literary executors. Original Language Connections
Authored By
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
In Branch
Source Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.- Britannica, "Mikhail Bakunin"
- Authored By: Mikhail Bakunin
View the Source God and the State (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead, opening sentenceQuote, Lead, opening sentence
God and the State is an unfinished manuscript by the Russian anarchist philosopher Mikhail Bakunin, published posthumously in 1882.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Stanford University, Center for the Study of Language and InformationIn Branch: Political PhilosophyView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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