George C Heider

Samuel Edward Konkin III, also known as SEK3, was a Canadian-American writer and proponent of libertarianism. Born in 1947, he passed away in 2004. Konkin is primarily recognized for developing the philosophy he termed 'agorism,' which advocates for a society structured around voluntary exchanges and 'counter-economics.' This approach involves withdrawing consent from the state by engaging in black and grey market activities that avoid taxation and regulation, aiming to create an 'agora' or open marketplace free from coercion.

Beyond his political philosophy, Konkin was an avid contributor to fanzines, particularly within science fiction and fantasy circles. He was a notable figure for his engagement with works by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, and his contributions to publications like Alarums and Excursions. His personal life included a brief marriage and a son, and he identified as an atheist, often dressing in black to signify his anarchist beliefs. Konkin also held strong opinions against traditional political participation, rejecting voting and opposing the Libertarian Party, which he viewed as compromised by statist elements.

Samuel Edward Konkin III developed the political philosophy known as agorism, which he outlined in his "New Libertarian Manifesto." Agorism envisions a society where all interactions are voluntary and conducted through "counter-economics." This strategy involves actively circumventing state control by participating in black and grey markets, thereby avoiding taxation and regulation. Konkin believed that by withdrawing economic activity from state oversight, individuals could foster a truly free society, which he termed the "agora" – a Greek word for marketplace. He rejected conventional political methods like voting, viewing them as incompatible with libertarian principles and instead promoted this alternative economic strategy as a path to societal transformation. Konkin also opposed wage labor, intellectual property, imperialism, and interventionism.

A lifelong admirer of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, Konkin was an active participant in the science fiction and fantasy fanzine community. He was known for his contributions to publications such as Alarums and Excursions. In one notable instance, he published a controversial drawing depicting Dungeons & Dragons writers in a negative light, following a community dispute over proposed rules concerning female characters. Konkin himself proposed a "damsel" character archetype, which drew criticism for reinforcing gender stereotypes and for its handling of sensitive themes like sexual assault, with some critics viewing his proposals as objectifying women. These proposals sparked debate among fans, with some interpreting his work as satire while others condemned it as chauvinistic.

Konkin considered his libertarian views to be radical and was a founder of the Agorist Institute. He was a staunch opponent of voting, believing it to be fundamentally at odds with libertarian ethics, and he distanced himself from the Libertarian Party, which he accused of being co-opted by statist ideologies. He also expressed opposition to the philosopher Robert Nozick, referring to his followers as "Nozis." In addition to his philosophical and political writings, Konkin was the editor and publisher of several publications, including New Libertarian Notes, New Libertarian Weekly, and New Libertarian magazine. His involvement with the Institute for Historical Review (IHR), where he served on the board, led to accusations of historical revisionism, though Konkin personally rejected Holocaust denial and stated he defended the IHR's freedom of speech.