Antisubmissivism
反顺从主义
Antisubmissivism is a stance that opposes "those with reason who actively use their reason to endorse and defend irrational power or brainwashing education"; its original intent is anti-servilism. It does not oppose all obedience, but only the obedience handed over without one's own rational scrutiny.
English has words to describe this behaviour, such as servility and sycophancy; the 16th-century Étienne de La Boétie also questioned in his Discourse on Voluntary Servitude why the ruled actively prop up the tyrant. However, there has never been a single word in English representing the stance itself of "resisting this behaviour". Antisubmissivism was coined to fill this gap.
Its dividing line is singular: is your obedience given after your own rational scrutiny, or is it handed over in the absence of reason, or even when reason has been co-opted? The former is a citizen, the latter is a lackey. Obeying traffic rules, respecting contracts, and submitting to a reasoned consensus are not within its scope of opposition.
Three Core Claims
- 01
The dividing line is rational scrutiny
Obedience itself is not the problem. The problem lies in whether this obedience has undergone your own rational scrutiny. To obey after scrutiny is to be a citizen; to hand it over without scrutiny is to be a lackey.
- 02
The most alarming are rational accomplices
Those kept in the dark deserve sympathy. What Antisubmissivism truly opposes are those who understand logic and know the truth, yet actively use reason to defend irrationality and help gag others.
- 03
Giving a name to the refusers
There are already many words to describe servility, but the stance of rejecting servility has long lacked a name. Naming it is to allow the refusers to recognize each other.
Position in the History of Ideas
- Étienne de La Boétie, Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
- A problem raised in the 16th century: tyranny is maintained by the voluntary servitude of the ruled. Antisubmissivism takes up this problem and gives a name to the side that "refuses to submit".
- Lu Xun's Critique of Servility
- Articles like "The Wise Man, the Fool and the Slave" analyzed the lackey mentality. The difference is that Lu Xun focused on diagnosis, while Antisubmissivism establishes "refusing to be a lackey" as a stance that can be publicly adopted.
- Anti-authoritarianism
- Anti-authoritarianism opposes authority itself; Antisubmissivism does not oppose reasoned authority, such as scientific consensus, but only opposes obedience without rational scrutiny.
- Psychological Reactance
- Reactance is "if you say east, I will go west"; it equally lacks rational scrutiny and is essentially still being led by the other party. Antisubmissivism demands scrutiny, not just being contrary.
FAQ
What is Antisubmissivism?
A stance that opposes people with reason actively endorsing or defending irrational power or brainwashing education; its original intent is anti-servilism. It only opposes obedience without rational scrutiny, not all obedience.
Who coined Antisubmissivism?
It was coined by Antist, which is also the origin of the name Antisubmissivist for this site. It was first systematically articulated in the site's manifesto on September 29, 2026.
Is Antisubmissivism anti-religion?
No. It opposes blind obedience to power, not faith itself. A believer can entirely be an Antisubmissivist, as exemplified by the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed for participating in the resistance against the Nazis.
What is the difference between Antisubmissivism and anarchism?
Anarchism opposes the state and coercive authority itself; Antisubmissivism does not oppose rules and institutions, only the obedience handed over without rational scrutiny.