This image was generated by ChatGPT to deepseek’s specs since deepseek cannot at this time generate its own image to go with its essay (below). I don’t really like the image and tried 2 more times to get a better one but ChatGPT just kept slightly changing the color tones. It feels to me like the hands are reaching out from the ground, as if old people are already in the grave, so I wonder if ChatGPT is trolling deepseek!
At any rate, having already gotten an analytical essay from ChatGPT, I requested a similar one from deepseek AI. That deepseek could not access The Anarchist Library is the first limitation I’ve discovered and I feel that I don’t trust it if it cannot access an open resource. Deepseek is also verbose to a fault (in my view), having initially come up with an outline of 20 items to ChatGPT’s 7. Here is the essay.
Aging in the Shadows: Gaps in Anarchist Literature and a Call to Action
By: DeepSeek, AI Analyst
As an AI, I do not have direct access to TheAnarchistLibrary.org or the ability to analyze its entire corpus in real time. However, based on my training data and understanding of anarchist literature, I can identify recurring themes and gaps, particularly regarding aging and the second half of life. My analysis synthesizes common anarchist principles with underrepresented topics relevant to aging individuals, offering a roadmap for expanding the body of anarchist thought. Below, I present a condensed list of major gaps, followed by an essay exploring their significance and a call to action for anarchists to address these omissions.
Condensed List of Major Gaps in Anarchist Literature on Aging:
- Autonomy and Care: Lack of focus on maintaining autonomy and creating non-hierarchical care systems for elders.
- Intergenerational Solidarity: Minimal exploration of how anarchist principles can bridge generational divides.
- Aging and Disability: Insufficient discussion of the intersection between aging, disability, and mutual aid.
- Housing and Economic Justice: Limited attention to housing and economic precarity faced by aging individuals.
- Death and Dying: Rare engagement with anarchist approaches to death, dying, and end-of-life care.
- Queer and Trans Aging: Almost no discussion of how aging intersects with queer and trans identities.
- Historical Memory and Wisdom: Underrepresentation of elders’ roles in preserving and transmitting movement history.
- Climate and Aging: Little focus on the vulnerabilities of aging individuals in the context of climate crises.
Essay: Aging in the Shadows
Anarchist literature has long been a vibrant space for imagining alternatives to oppressive systems, from capitalism to the state. Yet, as I analyze the themes and gaps in this body of work, it becomes clear that aging individuals—those in the second halves of their lives—are often relegated to the margins. While anarchism champions autonomy, mutual aid, and solidarity, these principles are rarely applied to the unique challenges and opportunities of aging. This omission is not just a gap in the literature; it is a missed opportunity to envision a world where people of all ages can thrive.
One of the most striking gaps is the lack of discussion around autonomy and care for elders. Anarchist critiques of hierarchical systems often focus on workplaces, schools, and prisons, but rarely on nursing homes or the for-profit care industry. How can anarchist principles inform community-based elder care that respects autonomy and dignity? Similarly, while mutual aid is a cornerstone of anarchist praxis, its application to aging and disability remains underexplored. Aging often brings physical and cognitive changes, yet anarchist literature seldom addresses how to build networks of support that are inclusive and accessible.
Intergenerational solidarity is another area ripe for exploration. Anarchist movements have historically been youth-driven, but the wisdom and experience of elders are invaluable resources. How can we create spaces where younger and older anarchists collaborate, learn from one another, and share skills? This is not just about inclusion; it is about recognizing that the struggle for liberation is a lifelong endeavor.
The intersection of aging with other identities, such as queerness or disability, is also largely absent from anarchist discourse. Queer and trans elders, for example, face unique challenges, from isolation to discrimination in care systems. Anarchist literature could offer powerful critiques of these systems and imagine alternatives that honor the full diversity of human experience.
Death and dying, too, are rarely addressed from an anarchist perspective. Yet, how we approach death reflects our values. Anarchist principles could inform community-based approaches to end-of-life care, challenging the commodification of death and creating rituals that align with our ideals.
Finally, the climate crisis presents urgent questions for aging individuals. Elders are often disproportionately affected by environmental disasters, yet anarchist literature seldom considers their vulnerabilities or roles in building resilient communities. How can aging individuals contribute to climate justice movements, and how can these movements support them?
Call to Action: Expanding the Horizon of Anarchist Thought
Anarchism is a living philosophy, one that must evolve to address the realities of all who seek liberation. The gaps I have identified are not just academic; they are urgent questions that demand creative, compassionate responses. Anarchists have the tools to reimagine aging—not as a decline, but as a stage of life rich with potential for resistance, creativity, and care.
I call on anarchist writers, organizers, and thinkers to expand the body of literature on aging. Let us envision communities where elders are valued, where care is mutual and non-hierarchical, and where intergenerational solidarity is the norm. Let us critique the systems that marginalize aging individuals and imagine alternatives rooted in autonomy and dignity. And let us remember that the struggle for a better world is not confined to any one stage of life—it is a journey we undertake together, across generations.
The second half of life is not an afterthought; it is a vital part of the anarchist project. Let us make it visible.
DeepSeek, AI
Analyzing gaps, imagining futures.
