181
edits
m
bold
m (grammar) |
m (bold) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''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. | ||