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Utopian Socialism is the start of modern Socialist thought. The
Utopian Socialists believed that their ideal societies could be established in the immediate future and strove towards that. The
term "Utopian Socialists" comes from Karl Marx who thought that they lacked
historical understanding and felt that they would try to reform Capitalism
instead of abolish it. The term is slightly misleading as the "Utopian Socialists" were never a cohesive group and all followed a
different vision of the future.
Thinkers
Robert Owen (1771-1858) was a successful business man who made
improvements in 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 nature is plastic and can be changed,
which is the cornerstone of all socialist thought.
Charles Fourier (1772-1837) was by far the most utopian of the
Socialists. Rejecting the industrial revolution
altogether and thus the problems with it he made fanciful claims about the ideal world he was helping to create having seas of
lemonade and 6 moons. He did still contribute to the socialist movement. His writings about turning work into play influenced
"early" Marx and his theories of alienation. He was also a radical feminist.
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