Philosophical Views 4 issue

people from oppressing another group. Without a government, no frame of discourse exists at all to give people recourse if they are being oppressed. Conservatives protect a frame of discourse that is too rigid, while the anarchists present an alternative that may do away with a frame of discourse entirely.

Anarchists would argue that no discursive frame is necessary, given that people set free from governance will live in harmony with the natural law (Goldman 5). Without a government, there is no way to establish a stable frame of discourse that allows for marginalized groups to be recognized and have their concerns heard.

A proper frame of discourse must be found between the extreme inflexibility of the conservatives and the complete lack of structure from the anarchists. The frame of discourse should not be some amorphous concept that can be changed and bent too easily. Rather, the best frame of discourse to allow for freedom and the flourishing of the individual is one that combines elements from both conservatism and anarchism. The rigidity of conservatism must outline the discursive frame while specific anarchist spaces are carved out to allow for free, unstructured thought. A rigid structure will allow for the benefits of the conservative “principle of prescription” which Kirk describes as the recognition that many great ideas and concepts have come from the past and have stuck around due to their viability (Kirk 4-5). A more rigid structure and frame of discourse will allow for these great ideas to be remembered and implemented as people think of them. A space for anarchist, structure-less thinking must be carved out of this rigid structure in order to allow for creative thinking that is unfettered by the dominant ideas and discourse that are deemed to be true. Ferguson notes that no space has ever existed for Anarchism, so it was relegated to the streets and other unconventional spaces of political thinking (Ferguson 6). Out of these unstructured places came great ideas for the advancement of free speech, women’s rights, and the freedom of the individual (Ferguson 38). A more permanent space will allow for the development of more of these ideas, and marginalized groups will have a consistent place to go and be recognized without the influence of the larger society. Conservatives recognize the great variety that exists among people but doesn’t provide a space for all of these people to be heard (Kirk 5). An anarchist space will create a place