Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 1 P31 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 288 ANARCHISM On July 9 1917 Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman were sentenced to two-year prison terms for violating the Selective Service Act of 1917. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION In a legal argument an analogy may be used when there is no precedent prior case law close in facts and legal principles in point. Reasoning by analogy involves referring to a case that concerns unrelated subject matter but is governed by the same general principles and applying those principles to the case at hand. ANARCHISM The theory espousing a societal state in which there is no structured government or law or in which there is resistance to all current forms of government. Anarchists promote the absence of rules which leads to the absence of any identifiable social structure beyond that of personal autonomy. When anarchy becomes defined by one anarchist other anarchists may feel bound to change it. Anarchism thus means different things to different believers. Anarchists do not hold common views on subjects such as desirable levels of community cooperation and the role of large industry in society. Another matter of continuing debate is whether anarchy is an end unto itself or simply the best means to a better government. To all anarchists though anarchy is the best refuge from political dogma and authority. Moreover many anarchists agree that anarchism begins with the notion that people are inherently good or even perfect and that external authority laws governments institutions and so forth limits human potential. External authority they suggest brings a corruption of the innocent human spirit and a ceiling on achievement. commentators on anarchism differentiate between classical theories of anarchy and more modern movements. classical anarchists focused more heavily on the opposition to state control and capitalist society. Their strongest opposition was directed at government and the church. Many of the early anarchists were essentially socialists and anarchist
