Editing Individualist anarchism (section)

==== France ====

From the legacy of Proudhon and Stirner there emerged a strong tradition of [[Individualist anarchism in France|French individualist anarchism]]. An early important individualist anarchist was [[Anselme Bellegarrigue]]. He participated in the [[French Revolution of 1848]], was author and editor of ''Anarchie, Journal de l'Ordre and Au fait ! Au fait ! Interprétation de l'idée démocratique'' and wrote the important early [[Anarchist Manifesto]] in 1850. Catalan historian of individualist anarchism Xavier Diez reports that during his travels in the United States "he at least contacted [[Henry David Thoreau|(Henry David) Thoreau]] and, probably [[Josiah Warren|(Josiah) Warren]]".{{sfn|Díez|2007|p=60}}

Later, this tradition continued with such intellectuals as [[Albert Libertad]], [[André Lorulot]], [[Émile Armand]], [[Victor Serge]], [[Zo d'Axa]] and [[Rirette Maîtrejean]], who in 1905 developed theory in the main individualist anarchist journal in France, ''[[L'Anarchie]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Woodcock|1962}}: "On the fringe of the movement, and particularly in the individualist faction which became relatively strong after 1900 and began to publish its own sectarian paper, – 315 – L'Anarchie ( 1905–14), there were groups and individuals who lived largely by crime. Among them were some of the most original as well as some of the most tragic figures in anarchist history."</ref>

In this sense, "the theoretical positions and the vital experiences of [F]rench individualism are deeply iconoclastic and scandalous, even within libertarian circles. The call of nudist [[naturism]], the strong defence of birth control methods, the idea of "[[Union of egoists|unions of egoists]]" with the sole justification of sexual practices, that will try to put in practice, not without difficulties, will establish a way of thought and action, and will result in sympathy within some, and a strong rejection within others".{{sfn|Díez|2006}}

[[File:Band a bonnot desenho.jpg|thumb|180px|Caricature of the [[Bonnot gang]]]]
[[Illegalists]] usually did not seek moral basis for their actions, recognizing only the reality of "might" rather than "right"; and for the most part, illegal acts were done simply to satisfy personal desires, not for some greater ideal.<ref name="Parry, Richard 1987. p. 15"/> Influenced by theorist Max Stirner's [[Egoist anarchism|egoism]] as well as Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (his view that "[[property is theft!]]"), [[Clément Duval]] and [[Marius Jacob]] proposed the theory of la ''reprise individuelle'' ([[individual reclamation]]) which justified [[robbery]] on the rich and personal [[direct action]] against exploiters and the system.<ref name="Parry, Richard 1987. p. 15"/>