Utopian socialism - Revision history

imported>All that is Solid: /* Saint-Simon and his followers */

2024-02-14T16:36:45Z

Saint-Simon and his followers

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 14 February 2024
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	=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===		=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===
	'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him, according to Engels, "we find a comprehensive breadth of view."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm</ref> Engels even places him alongside [[Hegel]] as "the most encyclopaedic mind of his time."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch02.htm</ref> With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.		'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him, according to Engels, "we find a comprehensive breadth of view."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm</ref> Engels even places him alongside [[Hegel]] as "the most encyclopaedic mind of his time."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch02.htm</ref> With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory.

			He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817.

			Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.

	Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.		Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.

imported>All that is Solid: /* Saint-Simon and his followers */

2024-02-13T00:09:05Z

Saint-Simon and his followers

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 13 February 2024
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	=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===		=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===
	'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him, according to Engels, "we find a comprehensive breadth of view."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm</ref> Engels even places him alongside Hegel as "the most encyclopaedic mind of his time."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch02.htm</ref> With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.		'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him, according to Engels, "we find a comprehensive breadth of view."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm</ref> Engels even places him alongside [[Hegel]] as "the most encyclopaedic mind of his time."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch02.htm</ref> With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.

	Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.		Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.

imported>All that is Solid: added a few more details about Saint Simon from Engels

2024-02-13T00:08:39Z

added a few more details about Saint Simon from Engels

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:08, 13 February 2024
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	=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===		=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===
	'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.		'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him, according to Engels, "we find a comprehensive breadth of view."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch01.htm</ref> Engels even places him alongside Hegel as "the most encyclopaedic mind of his time."<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1880/soc-utop/ch02.htm</ref> With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.

	Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.		Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.

imported>All that is Solid: grammarr

2024-01-29T17:19:19Z

grammarr

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:19, 29 January 2024
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	In Germany Credit Mobilier was decisive in the inspiration and funding of the Darmstadter Banks, first of the German 'Great Banks.' In Austria they brought Ecole Polytechnique Engineers to bear on a state railroad line. In Spain, the Credtio Mobilario Espaniol (capitalized 1856 at 60 million francs), apart from supervising their railroad interests and underwriting government loans, "founded and operated coal and iron mines, coke and briquette factories, sugar refineries, potteries, dock and warehouse companies, the leading insurance company of Spain (the Phenix Espaniol), and the Madrid gasworks."<ref name=":0" /> In Italy the Credito Mobiliare Italiano (formed 1863) "underwrote government bonds, formed a holding company for public utilities, organized the construction of and later directed four Italian railroads."<ref name=":0" /> In Russia they formed the Great Russian Railway Company at the assent of the Tsar.		In Germany Credit Mobilier was decisive in the inspiration and funding of the Darmstadter Banks, first of the German 'Great Banks.' In Austria they brought Ecole Polytechnique Engineers to bear on a state railroad line. In Spain, the Credtio Mobilario Espaniol (capitalized 1856 at 60 million francs), apart from supervising their railroad interests and underwriting government loans, "founded and operated coal and iron mines, coke and briquette factories, sugar refineries, potteries, dock and warehouse companies, the leading insurance company of Spain (the Phenix Espaniol), and the Madrid gasworks."<ref name=":0" /> In Italy the Credito Mobiliare Italiano (formed 1863) "underwrote government bonds, formed a holding company for public utilities, organized the construction of and later directed four Italian railroads."<ref name=":0" /> In Russia they formed the Great Russian Railway Company at the assent of the Tsar.

	That the heights of finance were transformed is demonstrated by the ~~fact that~~ the '''Rothschilds''', whom Credit Mobilier competed against and who, in their struggle, found it necessary to adopt the same pattern of organization as Credit Mobilier. Eckalbar cites Alexander Gerschenkron, who gives the example: "When the Rothschilds prevented the Pereires from establishing the Austrian Credit-Anstalt, they succeeded only because they became willing to establish the bank themselves and to conduct it not as an old fashioned banking enterprise but ''as a credit mobilier, that is, as a bank devoted to railroadization and industrialization of the country.''"<ref name=":0" /> '''Marx''', who found the Second Republic and Saint-Simonian stockjobbers repellant, could not deny that "the application of joint-stock companies to industry marks a new epoch in the economical life of modern nations."<ref>http://marxengels.public-archive.net/en/ME0978en.html#Pe</ref>		That the heights of finance were transformed is demonstrated by the transformation of the '''Rothschilds''', whom Credit Mobilier competed against and who, in their struggle, found it necessary to adopt the same pattern of organization as Credit Mobilier. Eckalbar cites Alexander Gerschenkron, who gives the example: "When the Rothschilds prevented the Pereires from establishing the Austrian Credit-Anstalt, they succeeded only because they became willing to establish the bank themselves and to conduct it not as an old fashioned banking enterprise but ''as a credit mobilier, that is, as a bank devoted to railroadization and industrialization of the country.''"<ref name=":0" /> '''Marx''', who found the Second Republic and Saint-Simonian stockjobbers repellant, could not deny that "the application of joint-stock companies to industry marks a new epoch in the economical life of modern nations."<ref>http://marxengels.public-archive.net/en/ME0978en.html#Pe</ref>

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

imported>All that is Solid: /* Robert Owen */ grammar

2024-01-29T03:52:43Z

Robert Owen: grammar

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:52, 29 January 2024
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	=== Robert Owen ===		=== Robert Owen ===
	Like Fourier, '''Robert Owen (1771-1858)''' considered his ideas hardly less a product of divine grace. But unlike Fourier, Owen was a practical man, full of that spirit which seeks truth in nothing but the Deed. He owned a large New England textile factory, where he lowered the workday to ten and a half hours, provided education, and refused to employ children below the age of ten. To the shock of his contemporaries, improving the conditions of workers actually ''increased'' productivity. Like Fourier, the scale at which Owen's '''New Harmony''' Utopia operated was unmistakably that of the factory. For both men, the factory was taken as the highest expression of industrial capitalism, and was therefore the model and the scaffolding of their socialist projects.		Like Fourier, '''Robert Owen (1771-1858)''' considered his ideas hardly less than a product of divine grace. But unlike Fourier, Owen was a practical man, full of that spirit which seeks truth in nothing but the Deed. He owned a large New England textile factory, where he lowered the workday to ten and a half hours, provided education, and refused to employ children below the age of ten. To the shock of his contemporaries, improving the conditions of workers actually ''increased'' productivity. Like Fourier, the scale at which Owen's '''New Harmony''' Utopia operated was unmistakably that of the factory. For both men, the factory was taken as the highest expression of industrial capitalism, and was therefore the model and the scaffolding of their socialist projects.

	=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===		=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===

imported>All that is Solid: bold

2024-01-29T03:49:21Z

bold

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:49, 29 January 2024
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	'''Utopian socialism''' is an unscientific political philosophy which emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the [[Socialism\|Social Question]]. Unlike reactionary socialists, who sought to turn back the clock, Utopians recognized Capitalism as both progressive and irreversible. Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved without class struggle. This is their main difference from Marx, and it is also what makes them fundamentally idealist and unscientific. To them, ''Socialism was an idea'', one which would prevail the moment beneficent members of the upper class read their book and adopted their philosophy. To '''Fourier''' and '''Owen''' this could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. '''Saint-Simon''' had a broader vision in which bankers directed production at a meta level. Only Marx had the courage to search for Socialism in the world as an already existing movement, one developing out of extant contradictions latent in Capital.		'''Utopian socialism''' is an unscientific political philosophy which emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the [[Socialism\|Social Question]]. Unlike reactionary socialists, who sought to turn back the clock, Utopians recognized Capitalism as both progressive and irreversible. Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved without class struggle. This is their main difference from '''Marx''', and it is also what makes them fundamentally idealist and unscientific. To them, ''Socialism was an idea'', one which would prevail the moment beneficent members of the upper class read their book and adopted their philosophy. To '''Fourier''' and '''Owen''' this could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. '''Saint-Simon''' had a broader vision in which bankers directed production at a meta level. Only Marx had the courage to search for Socialism in the world as an already existing movement, one developing out of extant contradictions latent in Capital.

	Ironically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and [[Free market capitalism\|anarcho-capitalism]] can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.		Ironically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and [[Free market capitalism\|anarcho-capitalism]] can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.

imported>All that is Solid: grammar

2024-01-29T03:48:57Z

grammar

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:48, 29 January 2024
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	'''Utopian socialism''' is an unscientific political philosophy ~~that~~ emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the [[Socialism\|Social Question]]. Unlike reactionary socialists, who sought to turn back the clock, Utopians recognized Capitalism as both progressive and irreversible. Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved without class struggle. This is their main difference from Marx, and it is also what makes them fundamentally idealist and unscientific. To them, ''Socialism was an idea'', one which would prevail the moment beneficent members of the upper class read their book and adopted their philosophy. To '''Fourier''' and '''Owen''' this could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. '''Saint-Simon''' had a broader vision in which bankers directed production at a meta level. Only Marx had the courage to search for Socialism in the world as an already existing movement, one developing out of extant contradictions latent in Capital.		'''Utopian socialism''' is an unscientific political philosophy which emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the [[Socialism\|Social Question]]. Unlike reactionary socialists, who sought to turn back the clock, Utopians recognized Capitalism as both progressive and irreversible. Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved without class struggle. This is their main difference from Marx, and it is also what makes them fundamentally idealist and unscientific. To them, ''Socialism was an idea'', one which would prevail the moment beneficent members of the upper class read their book and adopted their philosophy. To '''Fourier''' and '''Owen''' this could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. '''Saint-Simon''' had a broader vision in which bankers directed production at a meta level. Only Marx had the courage to search for Socialism in the world as an already existing movement, one developing out of extant contradictions latent in Capital.

	Ironically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and [[Free market capitalism\|anarcho-capitalism]] can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.		Ironically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and [[Free market capitalism\|anarcho-capitalism]] can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.

imported>All that is Solid: /* Charles Fourier */ grammar

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Charles Fourier: grammar

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	=== Charles Fourier ===		=== Charles Fourier ===
	Of the bunch, '''Charles Fourier (1772-1837)''' was the most grandiose in his vision. Self importance was hardly unusual among early socialists (or contemporary ones, for that matter), but Fourier was uniquely open about it, a fact made plain by the account he gives of the genesis of his system. Traveling through France in 1798 he noticed the discrepancy in apple prices in areas of similar climate. He became fixated upon the injustice of price inflation brought upon by middlemen, and from this kernel developed his system. From this, he concluded that in all history "there had been two pernicious apples, those of Adam and Paris (the apples of discord), and two beneficial ones, Newton's and his own."<ref>Kolakowski, ''Main Currents of Marxism,'' V1 p.199</ref> His vision matched his self-conception in its fantastic scope. Humanity was to be arranged in 'Phalanxes,' each stocked with men whose occupations would be commensurate with their personalities (categorized in his own baroque schema comprising 810 types generated from 12 passions) and constituting a self-sufficient agricultural and industrial unit. Freedom was to be absolute: no job would be kept longer than it was desired; with the family abolished, children would be raised in common, and brothels sanctified. Grand transformation was not to confine itself to the realm of man; [Kolakowski] summarizes:<blockquote>The seas would turn into orangeade, deserts would blossom and glaciers melt, spring would be eternal, and wild beasts would die out or become friends of man, 'anti-lions' and 'anti-whales' to do his bidding. There would be a single language for all mankind; all would live life to the full, developing their personality in all directions, in a happy and harmonious community embracing every kind of sentiment and avocation.</blockquote>		Of the bunch, '''Charles Fourier (1772-1837)''' was the most grandiose in his vision. Self importance was hardly unusual among early socialists (or contemporary ones, for that matter), but Fourier was uniquely open about it, a fact made plain by the account he gives of the genesis of his system. Traveling through France in 1798 he noticed the discrepancy in apple prices in areas of similar climate. He became fixated upon the injustice of price inflation brought upon by middlemen, and from this kernel developed his system. From this, he concluded that in all history "there had been two pernicious apples, those of Adam and Paris (the apples of discord), and two beneficial ones, Newton's and his own."<ref>Kolakowski, ''Main Currents of Marxism,'' V1 p.199</ref> His vision matched his self-conception in its fantastic scope. Humanity was to be arranged in 'Phalanxes,' each stocked with men whose occupations would be commensurate with their personalities (categorized in his own baroque schema comprising 810 types generated from 12 passions) and constituting a self-sufficient agricultural and industrial unit. Freedom was to be absolute: no job would be kept longer than it was desired; with the family abolished, children would be raised in common, and brothels sanctified. Grand transformation was not to confine itself to the realm of man; Kolakowski summarizes:<blockquote>The seas would turn into orangeade, deserts would blossom and glaciers melt, spring would be eternal, and wild beasts would die out or become friends of man, 'anti-lions' and 'anti-whales' to do his bidding. There would be a single language for all mankind; all would live life to the full, developing their personality in all directions, in a happy and harmonious community embracing every kind of sentiment and avocation.</blockquote>

	=== Robert Owen ===		=== Robert Owen ===

imported>All that is Solid: added descriptions of the main three thinkers with references, and discussed the influence of the St. Simonians in the development of finance capital, the Credit Mobilier, marx's commentary on it .... also overhauled the description since the self organization of small groups could not actually account for someone like St. Simon, making the focus more on idealism vs. materialism .... need references to socialism utopian and scientific

2024-01-29T02:21:37Z

added descriptions of the main three thinkers with references, and discussed the influence of the St. Simonians in the development of finance capital, the Credit Mobilier, marx's commentary on it .... also overhauled the description since the self organization of small groups could not actually account for someone like St. Simon, making the focus more on idealism vs. materialism .... need references to socialism utopian and scientific

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:21, 29 January 2024
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	'''Utopian socialism''' is ~~a [[Dogmatism\|dogmatic]]~~ political philosophy that emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to ~~the social and economic changes brought about by~~ the [[~~Industrial Revolution~~]]. ~~It is characterized by~~ the ~~belief~~ that ~~a perfect~~ society ~~can~~ be ~~created through~~ the ~~establishment~~ of small, self-contained communities that ~~operate~~ according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice.		'''Utopian socialism''' is an unscientific political philosophy that emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the [[Socialism\|Social Question]]. Unlike reactionary socialists, who sought to turn back the clock, Utopians recognized Capitalism as both progressive and irreversible. Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved without class struggle. This is their main difference from Marx, and it is also what makes them fundamentally idealist and unscientific. To them, ''Socialism was an idea'', one which would prevail the moment beneficent members of the upper class read their book and adopted their philosophy. To '''Fourier''' and '''Owen''' this could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. '''Saint-Simon''' had a broader vision in which bankers directed production at a meta level. Only Marx had the courage to search for Socialism in the world as an already existing movement, one developing out of extant contradictions latent in Capital.

			Ironically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and [[Free market capitalism\|anarcho-capitalism]] can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.

	== Key Figures ==		== Key Figures ==

	~~The leading figures of utopian socialism include:~~		=== Charles Fourier ===
			Of the bunch, '''Charles Fourier (1772-1837)''' was the most grandiose in his vision. Self importance was hardly unusual among early socialists (or contemporary ones, for that matter), but Fourier was uniquely open about it, a fact made plain by the account he gives of the genesis of his system. Traveling through France in 1798 he noticed the discrepancy in apple prices in areas of similar climate. He became fixated upon the injustice of price inflation brought upon by middlemen, and from this kernel developed his system. From this, he concluded that in all history "there had been two pernicious apples, those of Adam and Paris (the apples of discord), and two beneficial ones, Newton's and his own."<ref>Kolakowski, ''Main Currents of Marxism,'' V1 p.199</ref> His vision matched his self-conception in its fantastic scope. Humanity was to be arranged in 'Phalanxes,' each stocked with men whose occupations would be commensurate with their personalities (categorized in his own baroque schema comprising 810 types generated from 12 passions) and constituting a self-sufficient agricultural and industrial unit. Freedom was to be absolute: no job would be kept longer than it was desired; with the family abolished, children would be raised in common, and brothels sanctified. Grand transformation was not to confine itself to the realm of man; [Kolakowski] summarizes:<blockquote>The seas would turn into orangeade, deserts would blossom and glaciers melt, spring would be eternal, and wild beasts would die out or become friends of man, 'anti-lions' and 'anti-whales' to do his bidding. There would be a single language for all mankind; all would live life to the full, developing their personality in all directions, in a happy and harmonious community embracing every kind of sentiment and avocation.</blockquote>
	* Robert Owen (~~1771~~-~~1858~~), a ~~Welsh textile manufacturer and philanthropist who founded~~ the ~~community~~ of ~~New Harmony~~ in ~~Indiana~~, ~~USA~~.
	* Charles Fourier (~~1772~~-~~1837~~), a ~~French philosopher who proposed the establishment of~~ self-sufficient, ~~cooperative communities known as "Phalanxes"~~.
	* Henri de Saint-~~Simon (1760~~-~~1825),~~ a ~~French social theorist who advocated~~ for the ~~creation of~~ a ~~society based on scientific principles~~ and ~~the equal distribution~~ of ~~wealth~~.

	== ~~Principles and Ideas~~ ==		=== Robert Owen ===
			Like Fourier, '''Robert Owen (1771-1858)''' considered his ideas hardly less a product of divine grace. But unlike Fourier, Owen was a practical man, full of that spirit which seeks truth in nothing but the Deed. He owned a large New England textile factory, where he lowered the workday to ten and a half hours, provided education, and refused to employ children below the age of ten. To the shock of his contemporaries, improving the conditions of workers actually ''increased'' productivity. Like Fourier, the scale at which Owen's '''New Harmony''' Utopia operated was unmistakably that of the factory. For both men, the factory was taken as the highest expression of industrial capitalism, and was therefore the model and the scaffolding of their socialist projects.

	~~Utopian socialists believed that~~ the ~~problems~~ of ~~society~~, ~~such~~ as ~~poverty~~, ~~inequality~~, and ~~exploitation, could~~ be ~~solved by creating small~~, ~~self~~-~~contained communities that operated~~ according to ~~principles~~ of ~~cooperation~~, ~~equality~~, and ~~social justice~~. ~~They envisioned a society in which individuals~~ would be ~~free from~~ the ~~constraints~~ of ~~traditional institutions such as~~ the ~~family~~, the ~~church~~, and the ~~state~~, and would ~~instead~~ be ~~able~~ to ~~live~~ and ~~work together~~ in ~~harmony~~.		=== Saint-Simon and his followers ===
			'''Saint-Simon (1760-1825)''' operated on another scale entirely. With him Socialism graduates from an imagined outcome to an observable, historical process. Simon operates at the level of the bank, rather than the factory. He fought alongside Lafayette in the American War of Independence, studied engineering and hydraulics at the Ecole de Mézières, speculated on land during the French Revolution (which he supported), and afterward became involved with the recently organized Ecole Polytechnique. In 1802 he advocated a religion of science with Isaac Newton as a Saint and in 1814 sent a proposal to the Congress of Vienna for a European supranational assembly. His socialist writing began in 1817. Saint-Simon saw a contradiction between two classes, not bourgeois and proletariat, but producer and idler. He proposed a system in which production would be organized according to social needs. After his death, his followers gave a series of lectures (1828-29), making the case for rational management of capital.<blockquote>...if industry is to attain the maximum possible perfections: first, the instruments must be distributed according to the needs of each locality and each branch of industry; second, they must be distributed according to the individual capacities so that they are put to work by the most capable men ... <ref name=":0">"The Saint-Simonians in Industry and Economic Development," John C. Eckalbar, ''The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Jan.'', 1979 [https://annas-archive.org/md5/bf49107e703aaae80b398ba5e32d7c5b Annas-Archive link]</ref></blockquote>Private property would still exist, but would be severely limited by the abolition of inheritance and other factors. Social hierarchy would be preserved but stripped of heredity and passive ownership. At the top would be bankers, technocratic philosopher kings allocating investment to supervise the general development of society.<blockquote>For the bankers, because of their knowledge and connections, are much more in a position to appraise the needs of industry and the ability of the industrialists than are idle and isolated individuals.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>In the Final State, banking will gain a "total view" of the World Economy, using this information to allocate wealth as "trustee of all instruments of production; in brief, of that which today composes the entire mass of individual properties ... everything is interlocked and all is planned" in the "interest of all."<ref name=":0" /> At the apex of the system is a Central Bank, representing "government in the material order," which would draw the "most skillful bankers into a unitary and directing bank dominating them all."<ref name=":0" /> In this it will be assisted by a tiered structure of regional secondary banks through which "the central bank would keep in touch with the principal localities to know their needs and productive power."<ref name=":0" /> Below these are tertiary banks specializing in particular fields or functions.

	~~One~~ of the ~~key ideas of utopian socialism was~~ the ~~belief in~~ the ~~importance~~ of ~~education~~ and the development ~~of the individual~~. ~~Utopian socialists believed that education should be universal~~ and ~~that it should be used to develop~~ the ~~full potential~~ of ~~each individual~~. ~~They also believed that work should be~~ a ~~source~~ of ~~fulfillment~~ and ~~satisfaction, rather than a means~~ of ~~survival~~.		Through their benevolence, the conditions of the working class would be improved. If it is not already obvious, Saint-Simon did not look to the working class or to mass politics for the fruition of his ideas. The upper class would be organically persuaded, and the structural changes they ushered in would be peaceful reforms. Many of his ideas (a European superstate, a world network of banking targeting development) have been realized. His followers were uniquely successful, in particular '''Isaac''' and '''Emile Pereire''', who pioneered the use of the Société Anonyme (a joint stock company with limited liability and anonymous shareholders). Their '''Credit Mobilier''' played a decisive role in the early history of Finance capital and the railroadization of Europe.

	~~Another important principle~~ of ~~utopian socialism was~~ the ~~belief in~~ the ~~importance~~ of ~~cooperation~~ and ~~mutual aid~~. ~~Utopian socialists believed that individuals should work together~~ for the ~~common good, rather than competing against each other~~.		In Germany Credit Mobilier was decisive in the inspiration and funding of the Darmstadter Banks, first of the German 'Great Banks.' In Austria they brought Ecole Polytechnique Engineers to bear on a state railroad line. In Spain, the Credtio Mobilario Espaniol (capitalized 1856 at 60 million francs), apart from supervising their railroad interests and underwriting government loans, "founded and operated coal and iron mines, coke and briquette factories, sugar refineries, potteries, dock and warehouse companies, the leading insurance company of Spain (the Phenix Espaniol), and the Madrid gasworks."<ref name=":0" /> In Italy the Credito Mobiliare Italiano (formed 1863) "underwrote government bonds, formed a holding company for public utilities, organized the construction of and later directed four Italian railroads."<ref name=":0" /> In Russia they formed the Great Russian Railway Company at the assent of the Tsar.

	~~Paradoxically~~, the ~~ideologies~~ of ~~[[libertarianism]]~~ and ~~anarcho~~-~~capitalism can be considered forms~~ of ~~utopian socialism because they present idealistic views~~ of ~~how society should be organized~~.		That the heights of finance were transformed is demonstrated by the fact that the '''Rothschilds''', whom Credit Mobilier competed against and who, in their struggle, found it necessary to adopt the same pattern of organization as Credit Mobilier. Eckalbar cites Alexander Gerschenkron, who gives the example: "When the Rothschilds prevented the Pereires from establishing the Austrian Credit-Anstalt, they succeeded only because they became willing to establish the bank themselves and to conduct it not as an old fashioned banking enterprise but ''as a credit mobilier, that is, as a bank devoted to railroadization and industrialization of the country.''"<ref name=":0" /> '''Marx''', who found the Second Republic and Saint-Simonian stockjobbers repellant, could not deny that "the application of joint-stock companies to industry marks a new epoch in the economical life of modern nations."<ref>http://marxengels.public-archive.net/en/ME0978en.html#Pe</ref>

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

108.175.228.95: Created page with "'''Utopian socialism''' is a dogmatic political philosophy that emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. It is characterized by the belief that a perfect society can be created through the establishment of small, self-contained communities that operate according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. == Key Figures == The leading figu..."

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Created page with "'''Utopian socialism''' is a dogmatic political philosophy that emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. It is characterized by the belief that a perfect society can be created through the establishment of small, self-contained communities that operate according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. == Key Figures == The leading figu..."

New page

'''Utopian socialism''' is a [[Dogmatism|dogmatic]] political philosophy that emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a response to the social and economic changes brought about by the [[Industrial Revolution]]. It is characterized by the belief that a perfect society can be created through the establishment of small, self-contained communities that operate according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice.

== Key Figures ==

The leading figures of utopian socialism include:

* Robert Owen (1771-1858), a Welsh textile manufacturer and philanthropist who founded the community of New Harmony in Indiana, USA.
* Charles Fourier (1772-1837), a French philosopher who proposed the establishment of self-sufficient, cooperative communities known as "Phalanxes".
* Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825), a French social theorist who advocated for the creation of a society based on scientific principles and the equal distribution of wealth.

== Principles and Ideas ==

Utopian socialists believed that the problems of society, such as poverty, inequality, and exploitation, could be solved by creating small, self-contained communities that operated according to principles of cooperation, equality, and social justice. They envisioned a society in which individuals would be free from the constraints of traditional institutions such as the family, the church, and the state, and would instead be able to live and work together in harmony.

One of the key ideas of utopian socialism was the belief in the importance of education and the development of the individual. Utopian socialists believed that education should be universal and that it should be used to develop the full potential of each individual. They also believed that work should be a source of fulfillment and satisfaction, rather than a means of survival.

Another important principle of utopian socialism was the belief in the importance of cooperation and mutual aid. Utopian socialists believed that individuals should work together for the common good, rather than competing against each other.

Paradoxically, the ideologies of [[libertarianism]] and anarcho-capitalism can be considered forms of utopian socialism because they present idealistic views of how society should be organized.

== See Also ==

* [[Socialism]]
* [[Communism]]
* [[Industrial Revolution]]