Utopian Socialism
Socialism
The advocacy of an economic system in which private enterprise is abolished and replaced by some form of common ownership of factories, farms, and other productive enterprises
SS Disciples / Philosophy of History
The grand arc of humanity's history is the movement from maximal hate to ideal love: Family -> band -> clan -> tribe -> city-state -> nation Currently at the national level, science and industrialization will take us to the human level where we are all one unit
SS / Factors Inhibiting Progress
The slackers of society: aristocracy and the church. Do nothing, get rich, want to keep it that way, must be eliminated
What do all utopian socialists agree on?
Private enterprise, especially for exploitative purposes, is problematic and should be replaced by collective ownership
O / Evil Trinity
Private property - makes us selfish Marriage - stifles procreativity Religion - provides us a moral code to become good, places the responsibility for being bad on us
SS / Economic Centralization
Productive enterprise owned by the Chamber of Execution
SS, F, O / IV -> DV Chains
SS: rational industrialization -> satisfaction F: manipulation of repression -> satisfaction O: doctrine of utilitarianism -> satisfaction
Dependent variable for all utopian socialists
Satisfaction
O/ Education
Seen as the elixir for solving most problems and a key nurturing environment, judges societies based on their education systems Boys: learn reading, writing, arithmetic until age 10, then join workforce or pursue craft education Girls: same structure but learn home economics (can join workforces not related to home economics) Adults: continue their education 3 nights a week (alternates with nights of recreation)
O / Sex, marriage, children
Sex is purely for pleasure No marriage Children communally raised
F / Education, Relationships, Gender
- Choose if you want to be educated or not, educated in what you want - Free sex between consenting adults, marriage and children optional, can get divorced, don't have to raise a kid just because you give birth to it - Women seen as equal to men, can do what they want
F / Economics and Workforce
- Mixed industrial-agrarian economy, lifestyle is agrarian focused - Workforce divided into series and groups, individuals choose whatever serie and group they want - Workforce led by those inclined to lead, don't have to be obeyed - Children able to work, free to do whatever they want
O / Villages of Unity and Mutual Cooperation
500 - 3,000 individuals working together, perfect environment allowing for perfect humans
Impact of Industrial Revolution
Agrarian economy transforms to industrial one, manufacturing replaces farming
Henri Saint-Simone Background
Born to an aristocratic family, wanted to make it based on his merit instead of his lineage. Successful as a young man, then lost all his money and spent last 25 years of his life in poverty. Wanted to create a vision of humanity based on merit
O / Human Nature
By nature neutral, whether we turn out good or bad is the product of our environment
SS / Social Harmony
Comes from finding where you fit, identification comes through education. Chamber of Examination creates an educational program that identifies what we are best at
O / Government
Direct democracy focused on organizing production 30-40: Home Department, decide what is needed and how production occurs 40-60: Foreign Department, guide interactions between villages, building of roads and communications, and population transfers
O / Role of women
Equal to men (idk about that bestie)
SS / Government
Governing of people not necessary, can be replaced by government of industry. Minimalist in nature, aristocratic. Three chambers: 1. Chamber of invention - 300 thinkers, give the micro-level vision 2. Chamber of Examination - 300 natural scientists, take the vision and gauge its feasibility and usefulness. Also create an educational program, set society's morals, and guide us to the correct path 3. Chamber of Execution - the rest, the laborers, take the tested vision and put it into affect
SS / Philosophy of History
History is the story of human genius, we can see the genius behind all stages of development. However, the creators of ideas are poor administers and need administration to make their vision a reality
F / Philosophy of History
History is the story of repression based on the notion that we are taught to act rationally. Institutions are developed to make us do so, therefore put in a prison through rules and constraints. Cannot find satisfaction with this in place
Charles Fourier / Human Nature
Humans are different than other species based on rationality, but thinking of humans as only rational eliminates their instinctual nature, or passions. Repression of our passionate nature leads to dissatisfaction, cannot act on rationality alone
SS / Human Nature
Humans are fundamentally unequal, differences abased on merit exist naturally and the value of each person differs. However, everyone has a role to play and exploitation based on difference in merit is not acceptable
Utopian socialist view of human nature
Humans are part of nature, therefore positive by nature. But, humans are fallible and make mistakes. Mistakes lead to flaws in humanity, but are not permanent and can be changed to create perfection. Rationality allows us to remake existence in a positive way
F & O v. SS
Identical: belief that their ideas are the path to greater satisfaction in our life experiences Similar: creation of intentional communities Different: nature-nurture debate
Factors leading to the development of utopian socialism
Industrial Revolution French Revolution
SS / Industrialization
Industrialization the key piece in guiding us to a better world, allows for abundance and can be harnessed to increase satisfaction and eliminate problems
French Revolution ideals and result
Liberty, fraternity, and equality leading to freedom and friendship Ideals burned out and people left with unfulfilled promises
F & O / Lifestyle
Life on the farm requires interaction and teamwork that is vital, agrarian lifestyle supported
O / Economic Life in the Village
Mixed industrial agrarian All individuals work at what their capacity allows them to do in an attempt to create a nurturing environment that benefits the most people Children cannot work until education is complete, around age 10 if they choose Individuals work hard because they see that they are promoting a common end
Utopian socialist view of nature
Nature itself is good, all things that have been provided through nature are positive
SS / Communism
Not an advocate for communism, does not think everyone deserves the same reward since we are not equal. Get what you need, no more than you deserve. Still no exploitation. Distribution of resources is based on your impact
Robert Owen / Utilitarianism
Owen's IV, doctrine that guides us to act in ways that produce the greatest good for the greatest number
F / Three Classes
Three classes of appetites that all humans possess differently and make us who we are. Appetites of the Senses: sight, hearing, scent, taste, touch (humans differ in what brings the most satisfaction) Appetites of the Soul: amity/friendship, love, parentage, respect from others (affinity or lack thereof with the enjoyment of relationships) Appetites of Desire: Cabaliste (desire to act in ways opposite of what is expected,), papillon (quest for variation), composite (freedom to integrate aspects of all classes)
SS / Three Stages of History
Three stages that are defined by government, economic, and social/religious elements: Antiquity - consuls, slaves, paganism Middle Ages - gothic chieftains (monarch), serfs, monotheism Last stage to salvation - control of forces of production, industrialization, science The last stage is the proper one for us to be in
O / Philosophy of History
Two phases of history: Age of Irrationality: humans blamed for all their ills, given enticing things that are off limits and blamed for disobeying various rules Age of Rationality: appropriate stage for us to move towards, realize humans should not be blamed for their decisions, we are the outcome of our environment and can create perfection through appropriate social conditions
F / The Phalanx
Type of small commune that will replace the nation-state system - Between 1700-1800 (a little more than double the 810 personalities he identifies) - People free to do what they choose - Approximately 3 million in total, first coordinated by omniarch in Constantinople then evolves into simple confederation
