Charles Fourier

François Marie Charles Fourier was a French utopian socialist. He was born on April 7, 1772 and he died on October 10, 1837. Fourier inspired the founding of the communist community called La Reunion near present-day Dallas, Texas as well as several other communities within the United States of America.

Biographical information

François Marie Charles Fourier born on April 7 1772 and died on October 10 1837. In 1789 he began studies of unitary architecture and in 1791 he moved from his native Besançon to Lyon, the second largest city in France.

Related Topics:
April 7 - 1772 - October 10 - 1837 - 1789 - Unitary architecture - 1791 - Besançon - Lyon - France

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Fourier declared that concern and cooperation were the secrets of social success. He believed that a society that cooperated would see an immense change in their productivity levels (for the better). Workers would be recompensed for their labors according to their contribution. Fourier saw such cooperation occurring in communities he called "phalanxes." Phalanxes were based around structures called "grand hotels," (or Phalanst%C3%A8re). These buildings were four level apartment complexes where the richest had the uppermost apartments and the poorest enjoyed a ground floor residence. Wealth was determined by one's job; jobs were assigned based on the interests and desires of the individual. There were incentives, jobs people might not enjoy doing would receive higher pay. Some jobs Fourier imagined would never be taken by sane adults, such as garbage control.

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Fortunately for those who lived in these communities, they were not obliged to follow Fourier's beliefs. Phalanx style communities started developing beginning in 1840, and Fourier was no longer around. The reason for their fortune was that Charles Fourier had a unique religion to call his own. He believed that the Earth is going through stages of life, the present one (during Fourier's life time) being the one of wealth and success. Up and coming, to the misfortune of greater society and not to those who lived according to Fourier, was an age of drudgery and poverty. Also slated to hit planet Earth was the anti-bear, the anti-whale, and many more anti-creatures. One must understand, to have followed Charles Fourier while he lived required a great patience and an outstanding faith in the unrealized.

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