Before revision:  A bending instability of an initially straight filament induces curvatures in the distribution of stresslets, thus producing a net hydrodynamic flow in which the filament propels autonomously. Depending on the ratio of stresslet strength to elasticity, the linear instability can develop into unsteady states with large-amplitude non-linear deformations, where the filament conformation and the center of mass velocity fluctuate frequently.
After revision:  A bending instability of an initially straight filament spontaneously breaks flow symmetry and leads to autonomous filament motion which, depending on conformational symmetry can be translational or rotational. At high ratios of stresslet strength to elasticity, the linear instability can develop into unsteady states with large-amplitude non-linear deformations, where the filament conformation and the center of mass velocity fluctuate frequently.