Samuel Edward Konkin III
Samuel Edward Konkin III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | July 8, 1947 |
| Died | February 23, 2004(aged 56) |
| Other names | SEK3 |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta |
| Notable work | New Libertarian Manifesto(1980) |
| Spouse | Sheila Wymer |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy American philosophy Canadian philosophy |
| School | Agorism Left-Libertarianism Austrian School |
Main interests | Political philosophy Economics |
Notable ideas | Agorism Counter-Economics Grey market/Black marketdistinction Left-wing interpretation of the thought ofMurray Rothbard Minarchism(coining the term) |
Samuel Edward Konkin III(8 July 1947 – 23 February 2004), also known asSEK3,was a Canadian-Americanleft-libertarianphilosopher andAustrian schooleconomist. As the author of the publicationNew Libertarian Manifesto,he was a proponent of apolitical philosophyhe namedagorism.
Personal life
[edit]Konkin was born inEdmonton, Alberta,to Samuel Edward Konkin II and Helen Konkin. He had one brother named Alan. He married Sheila Wymer in 1990 and had one son named Samuel Evans-Konkin. The marriage ended soon afterward.[1]Although he was an atheist, Konkin was a lifelong fan ofC. S. LewisandJ. R. R. Tolkien[1]and an avidfanzinecontributor. He was a known figure among science fiction/fantasy fans for his writing onAlarums and Excursionsand the like.[2]
Konkin was also notable for his style of dress: "To show hisanarchistbeliefs, he dressed completely in black, a color associated with that movement since the late nineteenth century ".[3]
On 23 February 2004, Konkin died ofnatural causesin his apartment inWest Los Angeles,California.He was buried alongside his father inEdmonton, Alberta.[1]
Political opinions
[edit]| This article is part ofa serieson |
| Libertarianism in the United States |
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Konkin consideredlibertarianismradical. He was an initiator of the Agorist Institute.
Konkinrejected voting,believing it to be inconsistent with libertarian ethics. He likewise opposed involvement with theLibertarian Party,which he regarded as astatistco-option of libertarianism. He was an opponent of influentialminarchistphilosopherRobert Nozick,and referred to Nozick's devotees as "Nozis".[3]
Konkin presents his strategy for achieving a libertarian society in his manifesto,New Libertarian Manifesto.Since he rejected voting and other means by which people typically attempt social change, he encouraged people to withdraw their consent from the state by devoting their economic activities toblack marketandgrey marketsources, which would not be taxed or regulated. Konkin called "transactions on these markets, as well as other activities that bypassed the State, 'counter-economics.' Peaceful transactions take place in a free market, oragora:hence his term 'agorism' for the society he sought to achieve. "[3]He also strongly opposed the idea ofintellectual property.[3][4]
Konkin was editor and publisher of the irregularly-producedNew Libertarian Notes(1971–1975), theNew Libertarian Weekly(1975–1978), and finallyNew Libertarianmagazine (1978–1990), the last issue of which was a specialscience fictiontribute featuring aRobert A. Heinleincover (issue 187, 1990).
Konkin was an opponent ofimperialismandinterventionism.[5]
Agorism
[edit]Konkin proposed a social political philosophy known as Agorism, which advocates for a society in which all relations between people are voluntary exchanges by means ofcounter-economics,engaging with aspects ofnonviolent revolution.Agorism has similar elements toanarcho-capitalism,but unlike some anarcho-capitalists, most agorists strictly oppose voting as a strategy for achieving their desired outcomes.
The goal of agorism is the agora. The society of the open marketplace as near to untainted by theft, assault, and fraud as can be humanly attained is as close to a free society as can be achieved. And a free society is the only one in which each and every one of us can satisfy his or her subjective values without crushing others' values by violence and coercion.
— Samuel Edward Konkin III[6]
Controversies
[edit]In her bookAnarchism: Left, Right, and Green,political theorist andanarcho-syndicalistUlrike Heider accused Konkin of endorsinghistorical negationismin his dealing with theInstitute for Historical Review(IHR),[7]where he served on the Board of Directors, which included allotting advertisement space to the IHR inNew Libertarian,[8]and writing a positive review ofJames J. Martin's book onRaphael Lemkin,which was published by the IHR.[9]Konkin personally rejectedHolocaust denial,but defended the IHR because he believed its freedom of speech was being suppressed.[7][10]However, Konkin's appraisal of Martin's book, specifically the second chapter (in which Martin labelled the claims of the mass murder of Jews as "a well coordinated and orchestrated propaganda assault"[11]) as "a summary of Martin's libertarian-revisionist views of the Second World War" and "the highlight of the book and a valuable booklet on its own" for "the libertarian and the hard-core revisionist"[9],calls that framing into question.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abc"A Fannish Tribute to Samuel Edward Konkin III".pulpless.
- ^Trammell, Aaron (2023),The Privilege of Play: A History of Hobby Games, Race, and Geek Culturep.124 New York University Press.ISBN9781479818402
- ^abcdGordon, David(2011-04-01)Sam Konkin and Libertarian Theory,LewRockwell; accessed October 28, 2017.
- ^Samuel Edward Konkin IIICopywrongs,EnemigosdelEstado
- ^"El Salvador: The War to Come".
- ^Konkin III, Samuel Edward.An Agorist Primer(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 11 March 2022.
- ^abHeider, Ulrike (1994).Anarchism.San Francisco: City Lights Books.ISBN978-0-87286-289-0.
- ^"New Libertarian #11".KoPubCo.Retrieved2017-10-01.
- ^abKonkin, Samuel (1984),Thrusting the Stake into Lemkin's Bleeding Heart
- ^"The Last, Whole Introduction to Agorism"(PDF).Papers of the Libertarian Left. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 April 2022.Retrieved4 May2022.
- ^Martin, James J.The Man Who Invented 'Genocide': The Public Career and Consequences of Raphael Lemkin.Torrence, California: Institute for Historical Review. p. 40.ISBN0-939484-14-5.
External links
[edit]- Agorism.eu.orghas archived Konkin writings and pamphlets in PDF format (Archived27 April 2022 at theWayback Machine)
- Collected writings of Samuel Edward Konkin III(Archived21 March 2022 at theWayback Machine)
- Fanzines by SEK3(Archived22 March 2022 at theWayback Machine)
- Interview with Konkin(Archived18 April 2022 at theWayback Machine)
- Konkin on Libertarian Strategy,byMurray Rothbard
- Sam Konkin and Libertarian Theory,byDavid Gordon
- KoPubCoback issues ofNew Libertarian
- Murray Rothbard, "Konkin on Libertarian Strategy" followed by Samuel E. Konkin, "Reply to Rothbard"at AnthonyFlood
- Obituary for SEK3by Jeff Riggenbach
- Obituary for Sam Konkinby Phil Osborn
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1947 births
- 2004 deaths
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- Agorists
- American atheists
- American economics writers
- American libertarians
- American male non-fiction writers
- American political philosophers
- American political writers
- American revolutionaries
- Anarchist theorists
- Anarchist writers
- Free-market anarchists
- Left-libertarians
- Libertarian theorists
- Philosophy writers
- Revolution theorists
- Writers from Edmonton
- University of Alberta alumni
- Natural law ethicists