This is an essay I wrote about a year ago now. I'm hoping to write another piece as a sort of update soon but figured I'd share if here since I haven't already. Any commentary, questions or criticism is welcome.

Comments

ziq wrote on July 10, 2021 at 6:51 PM (edited on July 10, 2021 at 6:52 PM)

Why are you trying to redefine Bookchin's concept of lifestylism to make it desirable (to you) by stripping it of all its actual value? The value of lifestylism is that it's not a program. It's not prescriptive. It's not an ideology. It's not a manifesto. It's not an attempt to construct a social system. It's about living your life as best and as anarchically as you can without laboring fruitlessly to control the wider world outside of your immediate habitat.

a_zed_9 OP wrote on July 10, 2021 at 9:21 PM

Could you elaborate in what ways you think my conception of lifestylism is creating a prescriptive program/ideology? Because at least in my mind, and what I take away rereading it is this "It's about living your life as best and as anarchically as you can without laboring fruitlessly to control the wider world outside of your immediate habitat."

ziq wrote on July 10, 2021 at 9:31 PM

you wrote a manifesto with instructions for turning 'lifestylism' into an ideology. idk how else to break this down

a_zed_9 OP wrote on July 10, 2021 at 9:36 PM

Yeah I'm guessing I was hoping if you could elaborate on how specifically I've laid out an "ideology". What does that word mean to you? Cause perhaps we are thinking of this word in different ways.

ziq wrote on July 10, 2021 at 9:40 PM

you identified problems with 'daily life', outlined 'aims' and then identified 'anarcho-lifestylism' as the solution. this is an ideology

a_zed_9 OP wrote on July 10, 2021 at 9:44 PM

Ah okay this makes sense, thanks for sharing!

ziq wrote on July 15, 2021 at 8:56 AM

btw it's spelled lifestylism