WILLIAM BATCHELDER GREENE Meaning and
Definition
-
William Batchelder Greene (1819-1878) was an American individualist anarchist and proponent of mutual banking. He was a significant figure in the 19th-century American anarchist movement and played a crucial role in shaping the principles and ideas of individualist anarchism.
Greene advocated for the abolition of the state and the establishment of a voluntary society based on voluntary associations and free contract. He strongly believed that individuals should live in accordance with their own judgment and desires, with minimal interference from external authorities.
One of Greene's notable contributions was his advocacy for mutual banking, an alternative monetary system. He proposed a system where individuals would establish banks to issue their own currency backed by their mutual credit. This idea aimed to decentralize and democratize the control of money, challenging the monopoly of state-controlled currency.
In his writings, particularly his influential work "Mutual Banking," Greene advocated for a non-coercive society characterized by individual autonomy, self-ownership, and voluntary cooperation. He argued that true freedom could only be achieved through the elimination of hierarchical structures and the establishment of a free market where individuals freely exchange goods and services.
Despite being relatively lesser-known compared to other anarchist theorists of his time, William Batchelder Greene's ideas continue to influence modern anarchists and libertarian thinkers. His work provides crucial insights into the principles and methods of achieving a society based on voluntary cooperation, individual rights, and decentralized control over resources.
