,! ,DI/9CT ,RADICALISM ( ,AN>*ISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,AN>*I/S T5D TO POSE \R CORE DIFF]5CES ) M>XI/S 9 T]MS ( DEGREES ( RADICALISM OR ROOT$NESS4 ,ONE ( ! CLASSIC WAYS ?IS GETS /AT$ IS ?AT M>XISM DEALS ) ! POLITICAL :]EAS WE DEAL ) ! E?ICAL4 

,!SE T]MS TO ! DISAGREEM5T1 ONCE POS$1 >E ALMO/ ALWAYS IMM$IATELY ACKN[L$G$ & 9DE$ EMBRAC$ BY BO? M>XI/S & AN>*I/S4 

,! M>XI/S T5D TO BE DELI<T$ BY ! FRAM+ BECAUSE IT SMOO?LY FOLL[S !IR N>RATIVE ( BE+ ! PRAGMATI/S4 ,& ADDITIONALLY BY & L>GE MO/ M>XI/S >E EXPLICIT MORAL NIHILI/S -- !Y DON'T BELIEVE !RE'S A PO9T TO ! 9VE/IGATIONS ( E?ICAL PHILOSOPHY4 ,!Y'RE NOT 9T]E/$ 9 9T]ROGAT+ :AT VALUES OR DESIRES !Y %\LD HOLD1 !Y'RE 9T]E/$ 9 PURSU+ ! DESIRES !Y ALREADY HAVE1 OR ?AT !Y SEE AS R\<LY UNCONTROV]SIAL4 ,& ?OSE FEW M>XI/S ?AT DO SEE VALUE TO E?ICAL PHILOSOPHY T5D TO OPPOSE RIGOR 9 IT1 & ALSO T5D TO DISCONNECT IT FROM !IR POLITICAL WORK4 ,OR ELSE1 :5 !Y DO CONSID] E?ICS1 !Y T5D TO 5D UP V]Y CLOSE TO AN>*I/S4 

,CONV]SELY AN>*I/S T5D TO EMBRACE ?IS DI/9CTION BECAUSE IT'S OBVI\SLY A DI/9CTION ( RADICALISM4 ,! SUP]-/RUCTURES ?AT ! M>XI/ W\LD TYPICALLY SPEAK 5TIRELY 9 T]MS ( >E ULTIMATELY SIMPLI/IC MACROSCOPIC AB/RACTIONS FLOAT+ ABOVE A F> MORE COMPLICAT$ & DYNAMIC REALITY4 ,! M>XI/ LOVES TO TALK 9 T]MS ( CLASSES1 ! AN>*I/ PRIORITIZES TALK+ 9 T]MS ( 9T]P]SONAL RELATION%IPS & 9T]ACTIONS4 ,9 SU* A S5SE WE AN>*I/S >E BO? MORE UNIV]SALI/ & MORE P>TICUL>I/4 ,WE SEEK ! MORE FUNDAM5TAL & F\NDATIONAL DYNAMICS1 LESS B\ND TO ! VAG>IES ( ANY SPECIFIC HI/ORICAL CONTEXT1 BUT 9 SO DO+ WE OBTA9 ! MEANS TO ANALYZE SPECIFIC CONTEXTS ) GREAT] DETAIL & 9SI<T4 ,( C\RSE WE RECOGNIZE ! FREQU5T PRACTICAL UTILITY ( ANALYSIS 9 T]MS ( OPPRESS$_/OPPRESSOR CLASSES1 BUT WE SEE ! FUZZ9ESS ( SU* AB/RACTIONS = :AT IT IS & >E HAPPY TO GO DEEP] ?AN SU* SIMPLE FRAMEWORKS4 ,! RADICAL POSITION IS ?AT Y\ CAN RETA9 ! 9SI<TS (F]$ BY HA/Y G5]ALIZATIONS -- AT ! MOL> LEVEL -- :ILE ALSO RECOGNIZ+ ?AT !SE >E ULTIMATELY NOT AS FUNDAM5TAL & CAN BE SUP]S$$ BY DEEP] DYNAMICS -- AT ! MOLECUL> LEVEL4 

,IF M>XISM LOOKS RA!R LIKE 5G9E]+1 AN>*ISM LOOKS A LOT LIKE PHYSICS4 ,IT %\LD COME AS LITTLE SURPRISE ?AT ,I ?9K ! PHYSICS P]SPECTIVE ULTIMATELY TRUMPS ! 0COMMON S5SE0 PRACTICALITY ( ! 5G9E]+ P]SPECTIVE4 ,& IT %\LD BE JU/ AS UNSURPRIS+ ?AT ! M>XI/S SEE 0COMMON S5SE0 AS ! IDEAL />T+ PO9T4 ,Y\ />T ) :AT Y\ ALREADY KN[ & ONLY UPDATE ?AT MODEL ONCE IT />TS CLE>LY BREAK+ D[N & Y\'RE =C$ TO4 ,?IS EXPLA9S ! V]Y MODUL> WAY M>XI/ DISC\RSE HAS UPDAT$ ITSELF TO CONSID] ?+S BEYOND !IR ORIG9AL PROLET>IAT V B\RGEOISIE FOCUS4 ,NEW DISC\RSES ON LIB]ATION & OPPRESSION 7SIMIL>LY SIMPLIFI$ 9TO TALES ( RELATIVELY SIMPLE CLASS CONFLICTS7 GET GRAFT$ ON TO M>XI/ ?\<T 9 UNGA9LY WAYS & ! :OLE DISC\RSE LUMB]S ON4 

,:AT IS N[ />T+ TO BE MORE WIDELY *>ACT]IZ$ 9 A NEGATIVE MANN] AS ID5TITY POLITICS OR 0IDPOL0 IS 9 MANY RESPECTS JU/ A CONT9UATION ( ?IS K9D ( SIMPLI/IC SORT ( CONCEPTUAL S*EMATIZATION4 ,MOD]N SOCIAL JU/ICE IS ! PRODUCT ( LIB]ATORY 9SI<TS EXP&+ FROM ! DISC\RSE ( A SMALL NUMB] ( RADICALS & BECOM+ V]Y RAPIDLY ADOPT$ BY MILLIONS4 ,IT'S ONLY NATURAL ?AT SOME COMPRESSION OR SIMPLIFICATION OCCURS1 & ?AT ?OSE SO OV]:ELM$ BY ! ONRU% ( NEW CONSID]ATIONS TRY TO P>SE IT ALL 9TO RIGID FRAMEWORKS4 

,SOCIAL JU/ICE HAS -- ON ! :OLE -- ?US BECOME 9 MANY REG>DS A RA!R PRAGMATIC ATTEMPT TO HA% \T AN ETIQUETTE OR LEGAL SY/EM 7ALBEIT A DEC5TRALIZ$ ONE L>GELY 5=C$ ?R\< REPUTATION RA!R ?AN /ATE VIOL5CE74 ,?IS IS AN UND]TAK+ QUITE DIFF]5T FROM E?ICS4 ,9DE$ ! BIGGE/ ADVANTAGE & DISADVANTAGE ( SOCIAL JU/ICE IS ?AT IT SEEKS TO BE AS MOTIVATION-9DEP5D5T AS IT CAN BE4 ,IT DOESN'T ATTEMPT TO E/ABLI% :Y ONE %\LD BE = EXAMPLE OPPOS$ TO MISOGYNY4 ,IT EI!R TAKES = GRANT$ ?AT ITS AUDI5CE ALREADY %>ES ! SAME VALUES 7NATURALLY CAUS+ SOME CONFUSION FROM SLI<T DIFF]5CES 9 !SE ASSUM$ VALUES71 OR IT SEEKS TO >RANGE A SOCIOCULTURAL /ATE ( AFFAIRS 9DEP5D5T ( PEOPLE'S UND]LY+ VALUES4 0,:O C>ES :AT PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEVE1 LET'S F9D WAYS ( BR[BEAT+ !M 9TO AT LEA/ ACT+ DEC5TLY40 

,ONE CAN SEE :Y1 AS ) M>XISM1 MO/ AN>*I/S F9D ! MA9/REAM ( SOCIAL JU/ICE PR(\NDLY 9COMPLETE & 9SUFFICI5TLY AUDACI\S4 ,IT (T5 GIVES UP BE=E GO+ DEEP] 9TO *ALL5G+ ALL P[] RELATIONS 9 & ( !MSELVES1 SETTL+ 9/EAD = AN 9COMPLETE 9T]SECTIONALITY1 & IT %IES AWAY FROM ! F> MORE FRACTI\S PROBLEMS ( FIGUR+ \T :AT WE REALLY VALUE OR %\LD VALUE1 MU* LESS SPEAK+ EXPLICITLY ( SU* VALUES & !IR T5SIONS4 ,( C\RSE ! FAILURE MODE ( SOME TE5S BR[BEAT+ PEOPLE OV] 9ANE O!RK9-/YLE %IT IS A HELL ( A LOT BETT] ?AN ! M>XI/ FAILURE MODE ( ,! ,PEOPLE'S ,COPS ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY BEAT+ PEOPLE4 

,SIMIL>LY !RE'S A TEMPTATION TO SEE AN>*I/ NUANCE & ABSOLUTISM AS FRU/RAT+LY UNPRAGMATIC4 ,!RE >E BIG 5EMIES DO+ A LOT ( DAMAGE ?AT NE$ TO BE KNOCK$ D[N & DI!R+ TRY+ TO ADD COMPLEXITIES TO \R PICTURE OR SPEAK 9 T]MS ( DI/ANT & EV5 MORE IDEALI/IC ASPIRATIONS CAN UND]/&ABLY SEEM LIKE A BUN* ( SABOTAGUE & BACK/ABB+4 ,:5 !RE'S A GOAL PRACTICALLY RI<T 9 FRONT ( Y\R NOSE Y\ DON'T WANT TO HE> SOME BUZZKILL WELL-ACTUALLY AN>*I/ TELL+ Y\ ?AT'S NOT ! ULTIMATE GOAL & ?AT ! %ORTCUT Y\ WANT TO TAKE RISKS 5DANG]+ !IR GR&] ASPIRATIONS4 ,FUCK !IR PREPO/]\SLY GR& AMBITIONS ( A WORLD )\T RELATIONS ( CONTROL1 Y\ JU/ WANT FUCK+ BREAD4 ,! PICTURE Y\ HAVE1 BO? ( ! WORLD & Y\R DESIRES )9 IT1 >E JU/ COMMON S5SE4 ,:Y DIRTY ?AT UP8 ,:Y UND]M9E IT8 

,!RE'S A BIT ( A P>ALLEL H]E TO ! COMPLETELY DIFF]5T DEF9ITIONS ( 0R$UCTIONISM0 US$ 9 ! H>D SCI5CES & ?OSE US$ 9 ! HUMANITIES OR SOCIAL SCI5CES4 ,9 ! SOCIAL FIELDS 0R$UCTIONISM0 IS %OR?& = A K9D ( OV]SIMPLIFICATION1 AN IMPOS$ CONCEPTUAL MODEL ?AT PAP]S OV] COMPLICATIONS & P>TICUL>S4 ,TO R$UCE ! DESCRIPTIVE FIDELITY ( ! MODEL 9 FAVOR ( A TOY ?AT'S EASI] TO WORK )4 ,AS SU* 9 !SE FIELDS 0R$UCTIONISM0 FUNCTIONS ALMO/ EXCLUSIVELY AS AN EPI!T4 ,H[EV] 9 MO/ ( ! H>D] SCI5CES1 P>TICUL>LY 9 PHYSICS & MA!MATICS1 0R$UCTIONISM0 HAS ! EXACT OPPOSITE VAL5CES4 ,TO R$UCE 9 PHYSICS IS TO M9IMIZE ! DESCRIPTION NECESS>Y TO FULLY REPLICATE ALL ! P>TICUL>S4 ,R$UCTIONISM 9 ! H>D SCI5CES IS NOT A MATT] ( /RIPP+ AWAY DESCRIPTIVE CAPACITY1 BUT DO+ MORE ) LESS1 OR DRAW+ \T MORE DETAIL AN ACCURACY FROM A PREVI\SLY CLUNKY IMPRESSION ( ?+S2 TO GO FROM A CO>SELY-GRA9$ PICTURE TO A F9ELY-GRA9$ ONE4 ,Y\ MAY />T ) A SIMPLE CONCEPT ( A TABLE1 & ?R\< R$UCTIONISM Y\ GET A MU* RI*] PICTURE ( ATOMIC & MOLECUL> >RANGEM5TS1 ! FL[S ( WOOD & /RUCTURAL T5SIONS 9 SCREWS OR PEGS1 ( COMPLEX UND]LY+ 9T]ACTIONS4 ,SU* R$UCTIONISM ULTIMATELY 5HANCES RA!R ?AN IMPAIRS4 ,Y\ CAN /ILL OP]ATE AT ! SOME:AT CLUNKY LEVEL ( AB/RACTION ( 0TABLE0 -- & ?AT CAN BE A GOOD & SUFFICI5T %OR?& 9 A L>GE V>IETY ( SITUATIONS -- BUT Y\ N[ HAVE ! FRE$OM TO MOVE BEYOND ! 0COMMON S5SE0 & TO PR$ICT ! B\ND>IES ( ITS USEFULNESS4 

,M>XISM & SOCIAL JU/ICE L>GELY LOOK AT ! RADICALISM ( AN>*ISM ) SUSPICION1 SEE+ IT AS ! K9D ( 0R$UCTIONISM0 SO ACCURS$ 9 ! HUMANITIES4 ,AS SOME?+ ?AT EI!R GETS 9 ! WAY ( COMMON S5SE OR DISSOLVES IT 5TIRELY 9TO USELESS & MA/URBATORY 9TELLECTUAL RABBIT HOLES4 70,OH SO WE'RE SUPPOS$ TO C>E AB\T 9DIVIDUALS ULTIMATELY1 ,I SUPPOSE ?AT MEANS IGNOR+ SY/EMATIC 9JU/ICE & PRIORITIZ+ EV]Y :ITE DUDE ) HURT FEELS CUZ SOMEONE YELL$ AT HIM407 ,! PROP] NOTION ( RADICALISM_/R$UCTIONISM -- AS SOME?+ ?AT COMPLIM5TS A REALIZATION ( BROAD PATT]NS & ULTIMATELY PROVIDES ADDITIONAL USEFUL P]SPECTIVES )\T UND]M9+ ALL CAPACITY TO PRIORITIZE -- IS ALI5 TO !M4 

,( C\RSE IT'S ALSO TRUE ?AT RADICAL 9QUIRY CAN %IFT & ALT] ONE'S VALUES4 ,& ADDITIONALLY IF ! RADICAL DISCOV]S ?AT SAY ! AMELIORATIONS 9 ! UNION CONTRACT SECUR$ TODAY W\LD BECOME A S]I\S IMP$IM5T TO FUTURE ADVANCEM5TS1 OR ! GUN LAW O/5SIBLY PROPOS$ TO /OP MURD]\S :ITE SUPREMACI/S 9 ! PRES5T W\LD MAKE /ATE TYRANNY ALL ! MORE 9VULN]ABLE 9 ! FUTURE1 ! RADICAL MI<T WELL WORK AGA9/ ! %ORTSI<T$ GOALS OR PRIORITIES ( 0COMMON S5SE04 

,?IS DI/9CTION BETWE5 RADICALISM & SUP]FICIAL BUT SUPPOS$LY PRACTICAL IMPRESSIONS HELPS GET AT ANO!R DIVIDE 9 LANGUAGE & ANALYSIS4 ,BO? M>XI/S & AN>*I/S USE ! T]M 0LIB]AL0 AS AN EPI!T4 ,BUT = QUITE DIFF]5T REASONS4 

,TO ! M>XI/ ! C5TRAL S9 ( LIB]ALISM IS ITS FOCUS ON 9DIVIDUAL LIB]TY1 A PREPO/]\S & DI/RACT+ BIT ( B\RGEOIS MORALISM4 ,?US NATURALLY ! M>XI/ SEES AN>*I/S AS BASICALLY ANO!R /RIPE ( LIB]AL4 

,CONV]SELY TO ! AN>*I/ ! C5TRAL S9 ( LIB]ALISM IS ITS LIMIT$ HORIZONS & 9SUFFICI5T AUDACITY4 ,! *IEF T5ANT ( LIB]ALISM1 9 ! AN>*I/S' EYES1 MI<T WELL BE ,KEYNES' 9FAM\S QUOTE1 09 ! LONG RUN WE'RE ALL DEAD40 ,LIB]ALISM SETTLES = CRIPPL+ HALF-MEASURES1 HAPPILY TRAD+ AWAY ! WORLD & FRE$OM ( FUTURE G5]ATIONS = SMALL %ORT T]M GA9S4 ,!Y >E HAPPY TO MAKE ! /ATE MORE P[]FUL & DEEPLY +RA9$ 9 \R LIVES1 TO APPEAL TO ! COPS & ?OSE 9 AU?ORITY1 TO SEEK ! PLACIDITY ( NEUTRALIZ$ /RUGGLE1 SO AS TO AVOID CATACLYSM OR EXP5SIVE & GRUEL+ RESI/ANCE4 ,LIB]ALS HAVE A %ORT HORIZON1 !Y WANT :AT !Y CAN GET N[4 ,& ?US LIKEWISE FROM ?IS P]SPECTIVE AN>*I/S VIEW M>XI/S AS JU/ ANO!R V>IANT ( LIB]ALS4 ,AT BE/ !IR DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT ACCOMPLI%ES A FEW ?+S QUICKLY AT ! EXP5SE ( GIV+ UP EV5 GREAT] ASPIRATIONS 9 ! LONG RUN4 ,! C5TRALIZ$ CO]CIVE APP>ATUS ! M>XI/S SEEK AS A MEANS BE+ JU/ ANO!R V]SION ( ! SAME MYOPIC ,FAU/IAN B>GA9 ?AT ! LIB]ALS MAKE ) !IR /ATE4 ,BO? P[] /RUCTURES ONCE EMBRAC$ WILL META/ASIZE & GR[ TO FULL BL[N AU?ORIT>IANISM4 ,BUT ! M>XI/S1 JU/ LIKE ! LIB]ALS1 EXPRESS LITTLE TRUE 9T]E/ 9 ?IS DANG]4 ,EI!R BECAUSE !Y ULTIMATELY JU/ WANT P[]1 OR BECAUSE !IR 0PRACTICALITY0 BL9DS !M TO ANY & ALL 0!ORETICAL0 DANG]S JU/ OV] ! HORIZON4 

,SIMIL>LY LIB]ALS & M>XI/S HAVE LITTLE APPRECIATION = SUFF]+ 9 ! H]E & N[ :5 ?AT SUFF]+ IS \TSIDE !IR 0PRACTICAL0 FOCUS4 ,! LIB]AL C>ES A LOT AB\T ! PROBLEMS ?AT >E TE$ UP = !M1 NEV] M9D :AT'S ACTUALLY ( GREATE/ /AKE OR IMPACT4 ,SIMIL>LY ! M>XI/ 7& ! MORE VULG> SOCIAL JU/ICE ADVOCATES7 DEVELOP A K9D ( LAS] FOCUS ON SOME SPECIFIC CATEGORIES OR =MS ( DOM9ATION1 (T5 COMPLETELY UNEQUIPP$ OR UNWILL+ TO ADDRESS MORE NUANC$ OR COMPLICAT$ SITUATIONS4 ,9DE$ JU/ AS M>XI/ ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BECOME P>TICUL>LY 9FAM\S AMONG ! ACTIVI/ LEFT = TOL]AT+ & PROTECT+ ABUS]S & RAPI/S 9 !IR LEAD]%IP1 EV]YONE IS AW>E ( CIRCLES ( SOCIAL JU/ICE :]E HORRIFIC 9T]P]SONAL ABUSE IS GIV5 A PASS OR BECOMES CL\D$ & IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEAK CLEANLY ( BECAUSE ! P]PETRATORS BEHAVIOR ISN'T EASILY DEF9ABLE ALONG TRADITIONAL DIM5SIONS ( HET]OPATRI>*AL & :ITE SUPREMACI/ CATEGORIES4 ,! N[ QUITE OLD JOKE 0,IF Y\ WANT A VISION ( ! FUTURE1 IMAG9E A BOOT /AMP+ ON A HUMAN FACE :ILE %\T+ 'BUT ?IS ISN'T ,=MAL ,OPPRESSION6' =EV]0 REVEALS JU/ H[ 9SUFFICI5T ! 0PRACTICAL0 L5S CAN BE4 ,ALIGN+ Y\RSELF AGA9/ ! CURR5TLY MO/ PROM95T EXPRESSIONS ( P[] & DOM9ATION DOES NOT EQUATE PREP>+ Y\RSELF TO RESI/ NEW OR MORE LOCAL & P>TICUL> 9/ANTIATIONS ( P[]1 :I* CAN BE ALL ! MORE 9SIDI\S OR SIL5C+ = !IR RELATIVELY UNIQU5ESS OR R>ITY4 

,:ILE !RE'S NO D\BT (T5 IMM5SE UTILITY TO ! PRACTICAL1 ! /AKES 9 ?IS WORLD >E TOO HI< TO SIT BACK & TAKE ?+S = GRANT$4 ,! M>XI/ & LIB]ALS BO? PROTE/ ?AT !IR !ORETICAL PICTURE IS SURELY NUANC$ 5\< & IF ANY DRAMATIC LIMITATION TO ?AT PICTURE >ISES IT WILL SURELY BE ADAPT$ TO QUICKLY4 ,BUT HI/ORY %[S ?AT OV]SIMPLIFICATIONS 9TO NEAT RHETORICAL FRAMEWORKS HAVE !IR [N LONG-LA/+ MOM5TUM4 ,PEOPLE COME TO ASSOCIATE NOT ) !IR ORIG9AL E?ICAL MOTIVATIONS 7IF !Y EV5 NOTICE !M7 BUT M]ELY 9 T]MS ( ! AFFILIATIONS & /RATEGIES ?AT ONCE D]IV$ FROM SU*4 ,! CRUDE MACROSCOPIC PATT]NS OR T5D5CIES ?AT MAY WELL BE CORRECTLY ID5TIFI$ EV5TUALLY GET DETA*$ FROM !IR UND]LY+ ROOTS4 ,?OSE SELF-ID5TIFI$ AS UND]DOGS REMA9 /UBBORNLY SELF-ID5TIFI$ UND]DOGS EV5 :5 !Y COME TO RULE REGIMES ?AT SLAU<T] MILLIONS1 SET UP GULAGS1 OR OCCUPY ,PALE/9E4 

,! RADICALISM ( AN>*ISM IS :AT HAS LEFT IT FAIRLY DI/9CT AMONG IDEOLOGIES & MASS MOVEM5TS1 ) NO 9/ANCES ( MASS MURD] 9 ITS NAME4 ,IT'S H>D TO /RAY TOO F>1 TO EV] LET 9]TIA & SOME 0COMMON S5SE0 LEAD Y\ D[N ! ROAD ( SLAU<T] & TYRANNY1 :5 Y\R PHILOSOPHY GR\NDS ITSELF SO DIRECTLY 9 E?ICS1 HI<LI<TS IT 9 EV]Y WAY & NEV] LETS Y\ DETA* FROM Y\R ULTIMATE VALUES4 ,MANY PASS+LY CLAIM TO BE *AMPIONS ( LIB]TY1 BUT AN>*ISM DEM&S ( EV]Y ACTION1 EV]Y PLAN1 DOES ?IS LIB]ATE8 ,C\LD ?IS BE MORE COH]5T ) LIB]TY8 ,& IF !RE >E NECESS>Y TRADE(FS H[ EXACTLY DO !Y WORK8 ,CAN !Y BE IMPROV$8 ,>E !RE BETT] WAYS8 

,TO REA* A MOM5T :]E WE SIT BACK1 5TIRELY SATISFI$1 W\LD BE TO AB&ON AN>*ISM4 ,TO ! RADICAL !RE IS NO LITMUS = 0DUE DILIG5CE01 NO F9AL F9I% L9E1 NO MOM5T :]E WE PAT \RSELVES ON ! BACK4 ,! VIGILANCE ( ! RADICAL IS NEV] SATIAT$4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,! ,DI/9CT ,RADICALISM ( ,AN>*ISM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,! ,DI/9CT ,RADICALISM ( ,AN>*ISM -- ,UPDAT$4 

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