The place of the individual in society

audiobook

The place of the individual in society

by Emma Goldman

EN·~34 minutes·6 chapters

Chapters

6 total

“NATIONALISM AND ITS RELATION TO CULTURE”

1:56

THE INDIVIDUAL, SOCIETY AND THE STATE

30:40

“The Vanguard”

0:07

“Bolshevism Promises and Reality”

0:22

LIVING MY LIFE

0:24

Transcriber’s Note

0:32

Description

A bold inquiry into the forces that shape societies, this work begins by challenging the conventional wisdom of nationalism and its ties to culture. Drawing on a sweeping survey of ancient and modern civilizations, the author dismantles the familiar doctrines of Hegelian dialectics, Marxist economic determinism, and Spengler’s fatalistic view of history. The result is a fresh framework that seeks to explain social change without relying on the old, incomplete theories. Readers are invited to reconsider how ideas, art, and collective identity interact across time.

The second part turns its gaze toward the individual’s place within the modern state, confronting the erosion of faith in traditional institutions. It questions whether democracy, fascism, or any form of dictatorship can truly serve humanity’s aspirations. Emphasizing personal liberty as the engine of progress, the essay argues that true advancement comes from diminishing external authority rather than reinforcing it. The discussion offers a provocative lens on contemporary crises, urging listeners to rethink the balance between collective governance and individual freedom.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~34 minutes (32K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Original publisher

Chicago: Free Society Forum, 1940.

Credits

Fritz Ohrenschall, Louise Pattison and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2023-08-16

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Emma Goldman

Emma Goldman

1869–1940

A fierce speaker and writer, she became one of the most recognizable radical voices of her time, arguing for free speech, workers' rights, women's independence, and personal freedom. Her life moved from immigration and factory work to prison, deportation, and exile, but she kept writing and lecturing to the end.

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