Anti-establishment and pro-establishment freethinkers

Can a real freethinker be a pro-establishment person? As you know, many freethinkers were jailed, tortured, and finally killed. The lust for changing things and the world order is insatiable for a few. I think that freethinkers don’t have to be necessarily anti-establishment. I will sum up some names and I think you will be surprised by what I think of some freethinkers. Are they all anti-establishment? No, they are pro-establishment.

Who is a freethinker?

A freethinker forms their opinions based on reason and critical thinking. Not accpeting ideas from authority or tradition. They question what most people take for granted. They explore new perspectives, whether those views are popular or not. Freethinkers value intellectual freedom and follow evidence and logic. It’s not about opposing mainstream ideas just for the sake of it. It’s about examining all views and making personal decisions after thoughtful reflection, without being influenced by others.

What is the establishment?

In dictatures, the establishment makes such structures that they extend from the top to the bottom. It is strictly directive: the dictator, his subordinates, the army, and control of the press (of course, through highly organized structures).

When we take a look at autocracies, the autocrat is the highest ranking position, but oligarchs or wealthy businessmen have their say (for example, nowadays Russia). The autocrat is restricted by other interests and control media via these structures.

While this is a usual constellation, there are also others. But the most vicious form of establishment is, unfortunately, the one we live in now.

There are the Big Banks, which allocate unimaginable capital, the super-rich families owning them, and media that are controlled by these and also by lobbyists and politicians (they can exert influence from their position). Needless to say, the super-rich control the whole circus pieces.

They make sure the education system (including academia) is molded by their own means: The educational system the super-rich want is done this way in order to have a blind, brainwashed, and manipulated population. And they are really great at it.

The current formal educational system makes you not think, not to question because this could be the end of it.

Literature, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, fairy-tales-like history. Do you really think this can threaten them? Not in any way!

But teaching how to get rid of the super-rich, bankers, crooks, movers and shakers, and lobbyists? Well, a highly dangerous adventure for them.

They tell you there is only one possible political spectrum, only one type of capitalism possible. But this cannot be more wrong.

So what freethinkers (both historical and present) were pro-establishment?

1. John Stuart Mill – Philosopher and political economist who championed individual liberties while supporting democratic systems. He pushed for reforms like women’s suffrage and free speech through intellectual and political activism.
2. Theodore Roosevelt – U.S. president who believed in democracy and capitalism, but reformed it through progressive policies like breaking up monopolies and conserving natural resources, all within the existing political system.
3. Angela Merkel – Long-serving German chancellor, known for supporting European unity, economic stability, and migration management. She upheld democratic values and operated fully within the EU’s and Germany’s structures.
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt – U.S. president who introduced the New Deal to save capitalism during the Great Depression, all while reinforcing democratic institutions and pushing for reforms within the system.
5. Konrad Adenauer – First chancellor of post-WWII West Germany, who rebuilt the nation through democratic governance, strengthening Europe, and encouraging economic recovery within a capitalist framework.
6. Helmut Kohl – German chancellor who led the reunification of Germany and supported European integration. He worked within the democratic and capitalist framework of post-war Europe, upholding traditional governance while pushing for modernization.
7. Margaret Thatcher – British prime minister who reformed the economy by reducing state intervention and promoting free markets, while preserving the parliamentary system and conservative principles.
8. Winston Churchill – British prime minister who defended democracy during WWII, supporting the British parliamentary system while advocating for post-war social reforms and leading the fight against fascism.
9. Lyndon B. Johnson – U.S. president who worked within the democratic system to pass landmark civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, supporting equality within the American political framework.
10. Clement Attlee – British prime minister who used the existing parliamentary system to introduce transformative social reforms like the creation of the National Health Service and the nationalization of industries after WWII.
11. David Cameron – British prime minister who modernized the Conservative Party, supporting the parliamentary system while advocating for social reforms like the legalization of same-sex marriage in the UK.
12. Otto von Bismarck – German statesman who upheld monarchy and aristocracy while pushing for key reforms like health insurance and pensions, working within the system to strengthen the nation.
13. Lee Kuan Yew – Founding prime minister of Singapore who operated within a strict capitalist framework, pushing for modernization, strict social policies, and economic growth, while maintaining political stability.
14. Woodrow Wilson – U.S. president who, while advocating progressive domestic reforms like the Federal Reserve, also promoted international cooperation through the League of Nations, working within the structures of democracy and global governance.
15. Charles de Gaulle – French president who restored stability to France after WWII and reformed the government, supporting a strong presidency within the democratic system, while defending national sovereignty.

Philosophers:

16. Isaiah Berlin – A political philosopher who supported liberal democracy and the idea of “negative liberty.” He worked within the framework of democratic societies to promote a balance between individual freedoms and societal structures, defending the importance of pluralism.
17. Karl Popper – A philosopher of science and politics who strongly advocated for the “open society” and defended democratic structures against authoritarianism. He believed in the reform of systems through critical thinking and the use of reason rather than radical change.
18. Michael Oakeshott – A conservative philosopher who argued for a pragmatic approach to governance, valuing tradition and continuity within established political systems. He supported gradual reform over revolutionary change, emphasizing the importance of preserving social and political stability.
19. Hannah Arendt – A political theorist who defended constitutional democracy and the rule of law. While critical of totalitarianism, she believed in preserving democratic institutions and working within them to ensure the protection of human dignity and rights.
20. John Rawls – A philosopher who worked within the framework of liberal democracy to promote theories of justice. His ideas on “justice as fairness” sought to improve existing democratic institutions by ensuring equality and fairness for all citizens, without rejecting the system.

21. Immanuel Kant – A philosopher who defended the importance of law and order within a constitutional framework. His concept of Perpetual Peace advocated for the establishment of republican governments and international cooperation, promoting a lawful society based on reason.
22. G.W.F. Hegel – A philosopher who supported the idea of a rational state. He believed that freedom could only be realized through the structures of a well-ordered state, where individuals can achieve self-realization within the existing social and political institutions.
23. John Locke – A foundational thinker for liberal democracy. He argued for the importance of constitutional government, property rights, and the rule of law, advocating reforms within monarchies to create more representative and responsible systems.
24. Alexis de Tocqueville – A political philosopher who analyzed democratic systems, particularly in the United States. He supported democracy but also recognized its limitations, advocating for checks and balances within the system to maintain freedom and prevent tyranny.
25. Edmund Burke – A philosopher and statesman who defended the British constitutional monarchy and the parliamentary system. He promoted gradual reform over revolution, believing that change should respect tradition and maintain the stability of society.
26. Adam Smith – The father of modern economics, who supported the free market and capitalism. He believed in reforming mercantilist policies but saw capitalism as a system that could lead to prosperity when properly regulated by governments.
27. Jürgen Habermas – A contemporary philosopher who defends the legitimacy of democratic systems and the public sphere. He argues for reforms to ensure that democratic deliberation includes all voices, but he firmly supports the structures of liberal democracy.
28. Charles Taylor – A philosopher who critiques aspects of modernity but supports democracy and social institutions. He argues for reforms that accommodate cultural diversity and pluralism, working within democratic systems to ensure they remain inclusive and fair.
29. Karl Jaspers – A philosopher who supported constitutional democracy, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom within the structures of the state. He advocated for responsible citizenship and the preservation of democratic institutions.
30. Raymond Aron – A French philosopher and political theorist who supported liberal democracy and capitalism. He critiqued Marxist ideologies and advocated for reforms that strengthen democratic institutions, believing that social stability was key to maintaining freedom.

31. Jane Addams – A social reformer who co-founded the Hull House, she worked within the American political system to improve living conditions for immigrants and the working class. She was an advocate for women’s suffrage and supported progressive legislation within the framework of democracy.
32. Florence Nightingale – A reformer who revolutionized the field of nursing and healthcare. She worked within the British military and healthcare institutions to promote hygiene, health standards, and patient care, all without challenging the fundamental structures of those systems.
33. Robert Owen – A social reformer who worked within the capitalist system to improve labor conditions. He advocated for the fair treatment of workers, better education, and cooperative communities, using existing economic structures to push for ethical changes.
34. Dorothea Dix – A reformer who advocated for better care for the mentally ill in the United States. She worked within the political and healthcare systems to establish more humane conditions in asylums and hospitals through legislative efforts and public policy reforms.
35. Elizabeth Fry – A British prison reformer who worked within the legal system to improve conditions for prisoners, especially women. She advocated for basic human rights within the existing legal structures and influenced reforms to make prisons more humane.
36. John Dewey – An educational reformer who promoted progressive education, arguing for more practical and experiential learning within existing school systems. He believed in improving democratic society through education while supporting the structure of public schools.
37. Samuel Gompers – A labor leader who worked within the American capitalist system to advocate for workers’ rights. He led the American Federation of Labor (AFL), promoting fair wages, working hours, and conditions, all while operating within the legal framework of capitalism.
38. William Wilberforce – A British reformer and politician who worked within Parliament to push for the abolition of the slave trade. He advocated for human rights and ethical reforms through legal channels and political campaigns.
39. Henry Dunant – A humanitarian and founder of the Red Cross, he worked within international political systems to establish conventions for the treatment of wounded soldiers and civilians in war. His efforts led to the Geneva Conventions, all done through formal legal and diplomatic means.
40. Susan B. Anthony – A reformer and women’s rights activist who worked within the American political system to push for women’s suffrage. She advocated for constitutional amendments and fought for change through political activism within the democratic framework.

Anti-establishment freethinkers

Here’s a list of anti-establishment freethinkers, politicians, philosophers, and activists who challenged the systems they lived in:

1. Karl Marx – A philosopher and economist who critiqued capitalism and pushed for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalist systems. His works, like The Communist Manifesto, called for the dismantling of class structures and the creation of a classless society.
2. Che Guevara – A revolutionary and key figure in the Cuban Revolution, Guevara fought against capitalist and imperialist systems. He believed in armed struggle to overthrow oppressive regimes and advocated for socialism as an alternative to established political orders.
3. Rosa Luxemburg – A Marxist theorist and activist who opposed the established capitalist and imperialist systems in Europe. She advocated for revolution and workers’ control of the government, challenging the ruling elite.
4. Simone de Beauvoir – A philosopher and feminist who critiqued patriarchy and traditional societal structures. In The Second Sex, she questioned the established roles for women, pushing for gender equality and freedom from societal expectations.
5. Emma Goldman – An anarchist and feminist who rejected state authority and capitalism, advocating for personal liberty and social revolution. She worked against the established systems, pushing for anarchism and women’s rights.
6. Malcolm X – A civil rights activist who initially rejected the mainstream nonviolent approach, critiquing both racial segregation and integration. He called for Black empowerment and self-defense against systemic racism, challenging the established American political order.
7. Jean-Paul Sartre – A philosopher who critiqued traditional institutions like capitalism, religion, and colonialism. He advocated for existentialist freedom, encouraging individuals to break free from societal constraints and establish their own values.
8. Frantz Fanon – A philosopher and revolutionary who critiqued colonialism and advocated for decolonization through violent struggle. His works challenged the imperial powers and pushed for a new order in the post-colonial world.
9. Noam Chomsky – A linguist and political theorist who critiques American foreign policy, capitalism, and media. Chomsky has consistently spoken out against corporate power and state authority, pushing for a more egalitarian and decentralized political system.
10. Mikhail Bakunin – An anarchist philosopher who rejected state authority and believed in the complete dismantling of hierarchical political systems. He advocated for a society based on voluntary cooperation and the abolition of government structures.
11. Nelson Mandela – Initially opposed the apartheid regime in South Africa through armed resistance, challenging the racist, oppressive state structure. While he later worked within the system to bring about change, his earlier efforts were decidedly anti-establishment.
12. Thomas Paine – A political philosopher and activist who opposed monarchies and called for democratic revolutions, particularly in his work Common Sense. He argued for the overthrow of the British monarchy and advocated for republicanism.
13. Henry David Thoreau – A philosopher and writer who rejected established norms, advocating for civil disobedience and individual conscience. In his essay Civil Disobedience, he called for resistance to unjust laws and criticized the government’s role in perpetuating slavery.
14. Gloria Steinem – A feminist activist who fought against patriarchal structures and gender inequality. She challenged the social norms of her time and advocated for radical changes to ensure women’s rights and equality.
15. Angela Davis – An activist and scholar who critiques capitalism, the prison-industrial complex, and racial injustice. Davis calls for dismantling these oppressive systems and advocates for revolutionary changes to society.
16. Vladimir Lenin – A revolutionary leader who led the overthrow of the Russian imperial government and established a socialist state. He rejected capitalism and monarchy, pushing for the destruction of the old order and the establishment of a communist system.
17. Howard Zinn – A historian and political activist who critiqued U.S. imperialism, capitalism, and the established historical narrative. In A People’s History of the United States, he challenged mainstream accounts and highlighted the struggles of oppressed groups.
18. Martin Luther – A religious reformer who challenged the Catholic Church’s authority with his 95 Theses. His actions sparked the Protestant Reformation, opposing the religious and political power of the Church.
19. Voltairine de Cleyre – An anarchist writer and speaker who rejected the state, capitalism, and organized religion. She argued for individual freedom and radical social change, challenging established authority in multiple forms.
20. Subcomandante Marcos – A Mexican revolutionary leader of the Zapatista movement, who opposed neoliberalism and the Mexican government’s policies. He fought for Indigenous rights and challenged the global capitalist system.
21. Albert Camus – A philosopher and writer who critiqued totalitarianism and challenged both capitalist and socialist structures. He promoted individual freedom and moral responsibility in the face of absurdity, rejecting conformity to ideological systems.
22. George Orwell – A writer and critic of totalitarianism, especially in his works 1984 and Animal Farm, where he exposed the dangers of authoritarianism and state control, challenging the power structures of both fascist and communist regimes.
23. Cheikh Anta Diop – A historian and anthropologist who challenged the colonialist narrative of African history. He fought against the established Eurocentric views, advocating for the recognition of Africa’s contribution to civilization and pushing for African unity.
24. Patrice Lumumba – The first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lumumba fought against Belgian colonial rule and called for independence. His vision for a united, independent Congo made him a target of the establishment.
25. Murray Bookchin – A philosopher and social theorist who rejected both capitalism and state socialism. He advocated for libertarian municipalism, a decentralized, ecological approach to governance that challenges traditional political hierarchies.
26. Emma Tenayuca – A labor organizer who led strikes and protests in the 1930s, fighting for workers’ rights and against exploitative labor practices. She opposed the economic establishment and called for social justice for Mexican-American workers.
27. Malala Yousafzai – An activist who stood up to the Taliban’s oppressive rule over education for girls. Her fight for educational rights in Pakistan challenged both local traditional power structures and global perceptions.
28. Angela Y. Davis – A political activist and scholar who opposed systemic racism, capitalism, and the prison-industrial complex. She advocated for prison abolition and gender justice, challenging the oppressive systems embedded in society.
29. Henry George – An economist and social reformer who critiqued land ownership systems and capitalism. His ideas, especially the single tax theory, challenged the economic structures that allowed inequality to flourish.
30. Seymour Hersh – An investigative journalist who exposed government misconduct, particularly during the Vietnam War. His work challenged the U.S. government’s military establishment and exposed corruption and abuse of power.
31. Assata Shakur – A Black Panther Party member and activist who opposed systemic racism and the U.S. criminal justice system. She was part of the Black Liberation Army and fought against what she saw as an oppressive, racist government structure.
32. Fred Hampton – A revolutionary leader of the Black Panther Party, he fought against systemic racism, capitalism, and police brutality. His activism focused on uniting marginalized communities in opposition to the establishment.
33. Guy Debord – A Marxist theorist and filmmaker who critiqued capitalist society through his concept of the “society of the spectacle.” He challenged the establishment’s control over media, culture, and consumerism, advocating for revolutionary change.
34. Subhas Chandra Bose – An Indian nationalist leader who opposed British colonial rule, advocating for independence through armed resistance. He challenged the political establishment in both Britain and India, seeking to overthrow colonial dominance.
35. Savitri Devi – A philosopher and writer who challenged modern political systems, combining Hindu philosophy with radical political ideologies. She critiqued both capitalism and contemporary political structures, advocating for a return to traditional spiritual values.
36. Ayaan Hirsi Ali – A vocal critic of Islam and advocate for women’s rights. She challenges both religious and cultural systems that oppress women, particularly within Islamic societies, and pushes for secularism and human rights reforms.
37. Victor Serge – A revolutionary and writer who opposed both Stalinist communism and capitalist systems. He fought for a more libertarian socialist vision, challenging authoritarianism on both sides of the political spectrum.
38. William Godwin – A political philosopher who rejected established government authority and advocated for anarchism. He believed in the primacy of reason and opposed institutions like monarchy and organized religion, which he saw as oppressive.
39. Bobby Seale – A co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Seale opposed systemic racism, police brutality, and capitalism. His activism focused on community self-defense and challenging the U.S. political and economic establishment.
40. Cornel West – A philosopher and political activist who critiques capitalism, systemic racism, and American imperialism. He challenges the political and economic establishments in favor of a more just, equitable society based on democratic socialism and Christian ethics.
41. Socrates – An ancient philosopher who questioned the Athenian state and its moral principles. His method of relentless questioning challenged established norms, leading to his execution for corrupting the youth and defying authority.
42. Angela Davis – An activist and scholar who challenges racism, capitalism, and the prison-industrial complex. Her critique of U.S. institutions calls for revolutionary changes in justice and equality.
43. Michel Foucault – A philosopher who critiqued institutional power structures, particularly prisons, hospitals, and schools. His work on the “disciplinary society” challenged the ways the state controls individuals.
44. Antonio Gramsci – A Marxist philosopher who theorized about cultural hegemony and the way ruling classes maintain power. He advocated for a counter-hegemony through working-class consciousness, opposing the established capitalist and political structures.
45. Ella Baker – A civil rights activist who opposed hierarchical structures within movements. She advocated for grassroots organizing and rejected centralized leadership, challenging both societal and movement establishments.
46. Fredrick Douglass – An abolitionist and former slave who fought against the institution of slavery and systemic racism. His writings and speeches were a powerful critique of the American establishment and its oppression of African Americans.
47. Jean-Jacques Rousseau – A philosopher who critiqued inequality and civilization itself, advocating for a return to simpler, more egalitarian ways of life. His work challenged the existing social and political order, calling for radical changes in governance and society.
48. Edward Said – A cultural critic and theorist who challenged the dominance of Western imperialism, especially through his concept of Orientalism. He critiqued colonial narratives and supported the struggles of colonized peoples.
49. Kwame Nkrumah – The first president of independent Ghana, he fought against British colonial rule and called for Pan-Africanism and dismantling colonial power structures across Africa.
50. Leon Trotsky – A Marxist revolutionary who opposed both capitalism and Stalin’s authoritarian version of communism. He advocated for global revolution and the permanent revolution theory, standing against oppressive regimes on both sides.
51. Sylvia Pankhurst – A suffragette and socialist who not only fought for women’s rights but also rejected the class system and capitalism. She opposed World War I and later worked with anti-fascist movements, challenging both political and economic establishments.
52. W.E.B. Du Bois – A sociologist, historian, and activist who critiqued systemic racism in the U.S. He was a founder of the NAACP and argued for Black empowerment, opposing both racial and class oppression.
53. Thomas Sankara – A revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso who overthrew a corrupt government and implemented socialist policies. He fought against imperialism, colonialism, and neocolonialism, challenging global economic and political powers.
54. Judith Butler – A philosopher who challenges gender norms and the structures of patriarchy. Her work on gender performativity critiques the established roles society imposes, advocating for the dismantling of binary gender systems.
55. Harriet Tubman – An abolitionist and political activist who fought against the institution of slavery, challenging the U.S. establishment by leading enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
56. David Graeber – An anthropologist and anarchist who critiqued capitalism, bureaucracy, and state power. He was a key figure in the Occupy Wall Street movement and challenged the existing economic and political systems through his activism and writings.
57. Subcomandante Marcos – A leader of the Zapatista movement in Mexico, he fought against neoliberalism and government oppression. He advocated for Indigenous rights and grassroots democracy, challenging both national and global capitalist structures.
58. Hugo Chávez – Former president of Venezuela who critiqued neoliberalism and U.S. imperialism. He implemented socialist policies and challenged established global economic structures, advocating for Latin American solidarity and sovereignty.

Anti-establishment or pro-establishment? A little hiccup

I have explicitly proclaimed the division: pro-establishment and anti-establishment. But even those anti-establishment freethinkers may be sometimes connected to the establishment.

Why? Because if you want people to hear you, then some connections are necessary. Even though you hate the establishment.

Many anti-establishment freethinkers had ties to the establishment that helped them gain visibility. Noam Chomsky, a fierce critic of U.S. power and corporate media, spent most of his career at MIT. Being part of such a prestigious institution gave him credibility. It also provided a platform to voice his critiques while benefiting from the establishment’s resources. Without this connection, his influence might not have been as widespread. However, some form of religious clientelism is highly probable.

George Orwell, known for his critiques of totalitarianism, had firsthand experience as a British colonial officer in Burma. This role within the imperial structure gave him insight into the systems he later opposed. He became widely known because his works were published through mainstream outlets. Despite his radical ideas, he operated within a framework that allowed them to reach a broad audience.

Thomas Paine, a revolutionary voice in American history, was deeply radical in his thinking. Yet his visibility came from being closely tied to other revolutionaries. Supported by figures like Benjamin Franklin, Paine was part of the revolutionary movement. His pamphlet Common Sense reached the public because he worked with those who were establishing a new government.

Angela Davis, a critic of racial inequality and capitalism, spent time within the university system. Her position at UCLA provided her with a public platform. She was fired due to her Communist Party ties but later reinstated, a battle that brought her even more attention. Her academic role amplified her status as both an intellectual and activist.

Malcolm X gained prominence through his association with the Nation of Islam. It was a highly organized movement, and this structure helped him reach the national stage. His critiques of American society, while radical, were magnified by the organization’s visibility. Without this tie, he may have struggled to gain the same influence.

Jean-Paul Sartre, a philosopher who criticized bourgeois society and capitalism, was part of Europe’s intellectual elite. He rejected awards like the Nobel Prize but still operated within academic circles. His connection to these circles gave him the platform to spread his critiques.

Frantz Fanon, an anti-colonial thinker, worked within French institutions. His time as a psychiatrist in colonial hospitals gave him insights into the system. His role within these establishments allowed him to critique colonialism from the inside. The visibility he gained came from being part of the very structures he opposed.

These thinkers used their ties to the establishment to amplify their voices. Even while opposing it, they navigated within the system to spread their ideas. Without these connections, their influence might have been far more limited.

Conclusion

My article clearly demonstrates that a lot of freethinking can happen even within the establishment. However, the more you oppose the establishment, the closer you may come to the truth. This is, of course, a simplification.

These freethinkers changed the course of humankind, making anti-establishment ideas part of the establishment. Now, it’s our turn to carry on their legacy.