Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Ludwig Feuerbach, Social Ownership, Sough
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Lecture 19: socialism, part one (november 14, 2013) Next, we turn to socialism, which promotes the social ownership of property, production for the public good, and equality of effective power. As such, it rejects core elements of capitalism as a politico-economic system. Socialism came to prominence as a response to the dangerous and undignified nature of work during the industrial revolution. They also have tended to favour cooperation over competition and have sought to change social conditions as a means of changing human motivation. Thomas more sought communal ownership and the overcoming of pride, greed, and envy. Saint-simon identified class-based stages of history and sough to replace capitalist inefficiency and waste with expert planning. Fourier emphasized the evils of commercial society and looked forward to a stateless socialist utopia that would change human nature for the better. Robert owen thought that bad conduct stems from a corrupt social system, and that capitalism rewards greed and selfishness.