The Study On The Saint Simon's Industrialism

Europe in the 19th centurywas at the“edge of two eras”:the gradual collapse of the old feudal system and the arrival of capitalism.The progress in science and technology and the use of machines have boosted further development of capitalism,leading to a society sharply divided into two opposite classes,namely,bourgeoisie and the proletariat.After the French Revolution,the French social order was turbulent and chaotic,working people were living in difficulties.Saint Simon therefore criticized various drawbacks that existed in the capitalism society at the time and proposed his ideal social system,that is,industrialism.Saint Simon argued that,through industrialism,everyone could get maximal freedom and individual freedom so as to ensure that the society getsthe most peaceful system that it can enjoy.His ideology aboutindustrialism was proposed concerning the problems existing in French society at that time.Such ideology is progressive on the one hand and limited on the other hand and thus may be a utopia.However,some of the ideas of St.Simon'sindustrialism gave insights for the social development of China,which should be taken into account.The paper mainly elaborates and analyzes industrialism from the following four parts.The first chapter explores the social and historical conditions for the appearance of Saint Simon's industrialism.Capitalism gradually developed in Europe in the 19^thcentury and bourgeoisie and proletariat gradually separated.The former advocated free and democratic thoughts,and the whole Europe was in a period of transition from feudal society into capitalism society.The industrial revolution in Britain,the French Revolution and the independent war in the United States were the social roots of industrialismof Saint Simon,while the ideas of European enlightenment rationalityand the thought of utopian socialism from the 16^th to 18^thh century was the ideological source of the ideology of industrialism.Chapter Two summarizes the details of Saint Simon's industrialism.The purpose of his industrialism thought was to set human free and create peace of the whole society.The real establishment of industrialism is that industrialists obtain leadership in the secular world.Industrialistswho have the greatest social management ability and play the biggest role in society in the realistic society are actually at the end of the social organization.Only by establishing industrialists'party,publicizingindustrialism theoryand making alliance with royal power can they manage the power of the secular world.The basic form of the social organization under the industrialism system includes the Supreme Administrative Committee,the Supreme Scientific Committee,the Academy of Emotion as well as the Academy of Reasoning and Science consisting of industrialists,scholars and artists.Under the industrialism system,all people should engage in productive work and the society implements the production method according to plan,and distribution according to talent and contribution.The third chapter attempts to comment and analyze Saint Simon's industrialism thought.Saint Simon's industrialism thought is both inclined to proletarian and bourgeois,containing socialist and capitalist components,so that his ideology is just a utopia.Hisindustrialism attaches importance to labor,science,and talent and it implements production method according to plan,and distribution according to talent and contribution.These are breakthroughs of his predecessors.However,he criticized capitalism only from the rational level but did not see the essence and inherent contradictions of capitalism.He did not criticize private ownership of capitalism,affirmed the capital income therefore ignore the power and historical role of the proletariat.Saint Simon was depended on the royal power and there were also some contradictions concerning hisclassification of industrialists.The fourth chapter expounds the realistic enlightenment of Saint Simon's industrialism thought.The limitations of Saint Simon's industrialismshould be fully summarized and some be abandoned.Proper assessment of capitalism should be taken with the aid of scientific socialist theory.Meanwhile,there are positive aspects in Saint Simon's idea ofindustrialism since they pay attention to labor and attach importance to science and technology education.We should fully learn these beneficial views to promote the construction of modernization of the Socialism in China.