Socialism Reactionary or Utopian? SOCIALISM http://dictionary.reference.com - PowerPoint Presentation

Socialism Reactionary or Utopian?

SOCIALISM http://dictionary.reference.com so·cial·ism   [ soh -sh uh -liz- uh m ]   Show IPA Noun 1. a theory or system of  social organization  that advocates the vesting of the ownership and  control  of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the  community  as a whole.

UTOPIAN SOCIALISM utopian socialism noun (  sometimes initial capital letter  ) an  economic system  based on the premise that if capital voluntarily surrendered its ownership of the means of production to the state or the workers, unemployment and poverty  would be abolished.

Socialism Socialism develops over a period of time, with foundations in; Judeo-Christian theology Deuteronomy24:19-22 Matthew 19:22- The Rich and the Kingdom of G-d Anabaptist dogma No private property The Levellers’ ideology No common lands, community property, abolish classes

Socialism Enlightenment and French Revolution End to class privileges Natural Rights

Rousseau “The first man who, after enclosing a plot of land, saw fit to say: "this is mine," and who found people who were simple enough to believe him, was the true founder of civil society. How many crimes, wars, murders, sufferings, and horrors mankind would have been spared if someone had torn up the stakes and filled up the moat and cried to his fellows: "Don't listen to this imposter; you are lost if you forget that the earth belongs to no one, and that its fruits are for all .“   DISCOURSE ON THE ORIGIN OF INEQUALITY AMONG MEN  (1755):

French Utopian Socialism Wanted immediate human suffrage Wanted to live separately like Anabaptists Comte Henri de Ronvoy Saint-Simon 1760-1825 Foundations of ideology that would later influence Marx and Engels

Saint-Simon He thought that there was a basic level of humanity, of a need to survive and greed served this nature, and in order to save the lower classes and make all men equal, we would have to be removed from this society and reeducated. He also was a great believer in merit and ability, which ends up in the Communist Manifesto, “Each according to his needs, each according to his ability.” He also created the groundwork for sociology He thought there were two kinds of people, workers and idlers. Idlers were the upper class, and had lost the intellectual ability to rule. He also thought that all of politics and government were being taken over by purely economic interests. He wanted to refine Christian Doctrine with new Enlightenment era logic and science

Francois-Charles Fourier 1772-1837 French Utopian Socialist who thought that the Revolution had done nothing but give society to the Bourgeoisie and that it was all about economic interest SOUND FAMILIAR? He was a great influence on American transcendentalism, a radical, a mystic, and eccentric who believed in free love (Why do all these 18 th century radicals have to be so weird?)

Francois-Charles Fourier 1772-1837 He thinks society is completely corrupt and beyond repair. People must reject all of society’s institutions and embrace the natural human spirit. Pro-woman’s rights Thought marriage was slavery for women

Phalanxes Communities of 1,620 Live together in association and harmony Express the ‘Thirteen Passions’ instilled by G-d but repressed by Civilization Tolerant of homosexuality, but not Judaism. (?!?!) THIRTEEN PASSIONS Five senses Ambition Family Feeling Love Friendship Cabalistic Papillion Composite Harmony Group Passions ‘series’ passions Interests can be compiled to create 80 personality types.

Socialism Socialists believe that we are all part of a common society and should work together for the common good. Everyone in society is entitled to a share in the products of the society and the essentials of life. Robert Owen, 14 May 1771 – 17 November 1858, British Socialist

Socialism In socialism, the means of production are owned communally or by the state and there is protection against poverty.

Anarchism Anarchism is the belief that there should be no government or authority, and that people should cooperatively organize to mutually benefit each other. The means of production are shared by all. Anarchism is a political philosophy that developed in the 19 th century. As a school of thought it holds that the following things are true:

Anarchism The state and all organized government is a corrupting force on mankind and that all authority should be replaced with voluntary organizations. Left to one’s own devices, man will be moral and care for themselves and others in a just way. Humans will organize into social and economic groups that will serve each other and promote society It strives to give people the most freedom possible, and values individual rights over all other things. Anarchists do not believe in democracy, because majority rule squashes personal freedom. In business, anarchist organizations of workers will run plants, and defend the rights of workers. For it to work in society, people must spontaneously decide they want to overthrow the government, and create a peaceful, anarchistic society. Mikhail Bakunin

Capitalism vs Anarchism and Socialism Capitalism Means of production owned by private individual fortunes Allows for great wealth, but also great poverty Anti-union Independent ownership of plants and factories. Anarchism & Socialism Means of production owned by society Great wealth not possible, but neither is poverty Pro Union Labor collective ownership of plants and factories

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a movement that developed at the same time as Anarchism and Socialism in New England. It was a philosophical and spiritual movement that held the following: There is an essential oneness to all of creation, a unity to all living things Humans are at heart good and moral and will do the right thing if given the opportunity Logic and experience should not determine your beliefs as much as clarity and vision We should fight inequity and injustice trough peaceful means Important Transcendentalists include Thoreau, Emerson, Alcott and Whitman Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Communism In Communism, there are no classes, no state organization, and everyone has an equal say in policy and decisions. Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Germany

Communism In c ommunism, the means of labor are owned communally or by the state and there is protection against poverty. There is no private property.

Questions What was the First International Workingmen’s Association in 1864? Who were the two figureheads of the IWA? Who ultimately took power of the labor movement in 1872? What was the Paris Commune?