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from enjoyment of the work itself； desire for the good opinion of
neighbors and for the feeling of effectiveness is quite sufficient to keep
many men active。
But； it will be said； the sort of work that a man would voluntarily
choose must always be exceptional： the great bulk of necessary work can
never be anything but painful。 Who would choose； if an easy life were
otherwise open to him； to be a coal…miner； or a stoker on an Atlantic liner？
I think it must be conceded that much necessary work must always remain
disagreeable or at least painfully monotonous； and that special privileges
will have to be accorded to those who undertake it； if the Anarchist system
is ever to be made workable。 It is true that the introduction of such special
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privileges would somewhat mar the rounded logic of Anarchism； but it
need not； I think； make any really vital breach in its system。 Much of the
work that needs doing could be rendered agreeable； if thought and care
were given to this object。 Even now it is often only long hours that make
work irksome。 If the normal hours of work were reduced to； say； four； as
they could be by better organization and more scientific methods； a very
great deal of work which is now felt as a burden would quite cease to be
so。 If； as Kropotkin suggests； agricultural work； instead of being the
lifelong drudgery of an ignorant laborer living very near the verge of
abject poverty； were the occasional occupation of men and women
normally employed in industry or brain…work； if； instead of being
conducted by ancient traditional methods； without any possibility of
intelligent participation by the wage… earner； it were alive with the search
for new methods and new inventions； filled with the spirit of freedom； and
inviting the mental as well as the physical cooperation of those who do the
work； it might become a joy instead of a weariness； and a source of health
and life to those engaged in it。
What is true of agriculture is said by Anarchists to be equally true of
industry。 They maintain that if the great economic organizations which are
now managed by capitalists； without consideration for the lives of the
wage…earners beyond what Trade Unions are able to exact； were turned
gradually into self…governing communities； in which the producers could
decide all questions of methods； conditions； hours of work； and so forth；
there would be an almost boundless change for the better： grime and noise
might be nearly eliminated； the hideousness of industrial regions might be
turned into beauty； the interest in the scientific aspects of production might
become diffused among all producers with any native intelligence； and
something of the artist's joy in creation might inspire the whole of the
work。 All this； which is at present utterly remote from the reality； might be
produced by economic self…government。 We may concede that by such
means a very large proportion of the necessary work of the world could
ultimately be made sufficiently agreeable to be preferred before idleness
even by men whose bare livelihood would be assured whether they
worked or not。 As to the residue let us admit that special rewards； whether
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in goods or honors or privileges； would have to be given to those who
undertook it。 But this need not cause any fundamental objection。
There would； of course； be a certain proportion of the population who
would prefer idleness。 Provided the proportion were small； this need not
matter。 And among those who would be classed as idlers might be
included artists； writers of books； men devoted to abstract intellectual
pursuitsin short； all those whom society despises while they are alive and
honors when they are dead。 To such men； the possibility of pursuing their
own work regardless of any public recognition of its utility would be
invaluable。 Whoever will observe how many of our poets have been men
of private means will realize how much poetic capacity must have
remained undeveloped through poverty； for it would be absurd to suppose
that the rich are better endowed by nature with the capacity for poetry。
Freedom for such men； few as they are； must be set against the waste of
the mere idlers。
So far； we have set forth the arguments in favor of the Anarchist plan。
They are； to my mind； sufficient to make it seem possible that the plan
might succeed； but not sufficient to make it so probable that it would be
wise to try it。
The question of the feasibility of the Anarchist proposals in regard to
distribution is； like so many other questions； a quantitative one。 The
Anarchist proposals consist of two parts： （1） That all the common
commodities should be supplied ad lib。 to all applicants； （2） That no
obligation to work； or economic reward for work； should be imposed on
anyone。 These two proposals are not necessarily inseparable； nor does
either entail the whole system of Anarchism； though without them
Anarchism would hardly be possible。 As regards the first of these
proposals； it can be carried out even now with regard to some
commodities； and it could be carried out in no very distant future with
regard to many more。 It is a flexible plan； since this or that article of
consumption could be placed on the free list or taken of as circumstances
might dictate。 Its advantages are many and various； and the practice of the
world tends to develop in this direction。 I think we may conclude that this
part of the Anarchists' system might well be adopted bit by bit； reaching
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gradually the full extension that they desire。
But as regards the second proposal； that there should be no obligation
to work； and no economic reward for work； the matter is much mor