Metáforas finiseculares del declive biológico: degeneración y revolución en el anarquismo Español

Abstract

The general impression of massive decline in the biological quality of European populations became a common place in Fin-de-Siècle culture. These fears were to a great extent articulated through the psychiatric concept of degeneration. The language of degeneration was early on associated with repressive policies of conservative character. In spite of this, Spanish anarchists considered degeneration to be a fact, althought establishing both a different diagnosis and treatment. Biological decadence was caused by the pathogenic environmental conditions created by capitalism, Revolution being the only realistic solution. Some of them did not limit themselves to this argument, postulating a return to nature, the adoption of a hygienic life style, or the promotion of sexual reformed and New Malthusianism.