Utopian socialism

Utopian Socialism is a term used to define the first currents of modern Socialist thought. Utopian socialists never actually used this name to describe themselves; the term "utopian socialism" was introduced by Karl Marx and used by later socialist thinkers, to describe early socialist or quasi-socialist intellectuals who created hypothetical visions of perfect egalitarian and communalist societies without actually concerning themselves with the manner in which these societies could be created or sustained.

Major Thinkers

Robert Owen (1771-1858) was a successful businessman who devoted much of his profits to improving the lives of his employees. His reputation grew when he set up a textile factory in New Lanark, Scotland and introduced shorter working hours, schools for children and renovated housing. He also set up an Owenite commune called New Harmony in Indiana, USA. This collapsed when one of his business partners ran off with all the profits. Owen's main contribution to socialist thought was the view that human social behaviour is not fixed or absolute, and that human beings have the free will to organize themselves into any kind of society they wish.

Related Topics:
Robert Owen - New Lanark - Scotland - Owenite - Indiana

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Étienne Cabet (1788?1856) was influenced by Robert Owen. In his book Travel and adventures of Lord William Carisdall in Icaria (1840) he described an idealist communalist society. His attempts to recreate it (Icarian movement) failed.

Related Topics:
Étienne Cabet - Robert Owen - William Carisdall - Icaria - Communalist - Icarian movement

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Charles Fourier (1772-1837) was by far the most utopian of the Socialists. Rejecting the industrial revolution altogether and thus the problems that arose with it, he made various fanciful claims about the ideal world he envisioned. Despite some clearly non-socialist inclinations, he did still contribute significantly - if indirectly - to the socialist movement. His writings about turning work into play influenced the young Karl Marx and helped him devise his theories of alienation. Fourier was also a radical feminist.

Related Topics:
Charles Fourier - Industrial revolution - Karl Marx - Radical feminist

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