Revolution and Reaction in Modern France by Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson

Author:Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson [Dickinson, Goldsworthy Lowes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General
ISBN: 9781317339168
Google: iZXDCwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 29642518
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2013-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

§ 17. Fourier

From St. Simon and his followers we pass to Fourier. His system is based on a fantastic and elaborate cosmology. The law of the world is universal attraction, which manifests itself in five forms: material, organic, intellectual, aromal, and social, corresponding to the five classes of phenomena: inorganic matter, life, mind, magnetism, and society. Attraction, in general, is good; therefore, in particular, every desire and passion of man is good. If, then, as appears to be the case, there is such a thing as evil, this must be ascribed, not to the indulgence of the passions, but to the circumstances under which they are indulged. Thus the distinction between right and wrong is merely the result of artificial conditions. Expansion, not repression; love, not duty, is the law of a natural society. And the problem of the reformer is so to arrange the various relations of men that every passion may find a vent and contribute its force to the common good.

From this position Fourier is led to an analysis of the passions. He divides them into three classes: those that are concerned with the satisfaction of the senses, those that are concerned with association in groups, and those that are concerned with the association of the groups in a unity. On this classification is based the arrangement of the perfect society. Individuals will organize themselves in groups, the groups in series, and the series in phalansteries. All the associations will be voluntary; the members of a group will be attracted by some one or other of the passions that tend to that particular form of union: ambition, friendship, family affection, or love. Similarly, the groups will be connected by the passions that urge to larger combinations; and the result will be a harmonious organization comprehending, in the end, the whole of mankind. In the new society all will be workers, for work will be congenial to all; each will be directed by his dominant passion to some particular task, and it is from the conjunction of several individuals having the same natural bent that the association in groups will arise. Any member of one group may become a member of another, and thus avoid the monotony attending a single task, while interest in the work will be further enhanced by a friendly competition between the various groups and by their constant party combinations and intrigues. A single example will illustrate the way in which the system was supposed to work. " Imagine," says Fourier, " a mass of about 600 people, half men and half women, all inspired with a passion for the same branch of industry. Let us take the series for the cultivation of pears. These 500 people will be divided into groups which will devote themselves to the production of one or two kinds of pears. Thus there will be a group of the sectaries of the butter pear, another of the sectaries of the russet pear, etc.; and when everyone has been enrolled

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