SOURCE: “Proudhon's Theory of the State from the Standpoint of an Anarchist-Creative,” in The Political Theories of P. J. Proudhon, M. R. Gray, Inc., 1922, pp. 95-121.

In the following essay, Lu studies the development of Proudhon's anarchist political theory.

As has already been said, Proudhon was the father of anarchism.¹ From 1840 to 1863, he repeatedly declared himself an anarchist.² In discussing his theory of anarchy, we may, for the sake of clearness, divide the work into three parts: (1) why he preferred anarchy to the other forms of government, (2) how it can be realized, and (3) what are its general characteristics.

I. Why Proudhon Preferred Anarchy to the Other Forms of Government.

Society, he declares, is perpetually progressive.³ Anarchy is the condition of existence for adult society. Hierarchy is the condition of existence for primitive society. There is an incessant growth in human society from hierarchy to anarchy.⁴

There are two...