Charles Fourier

Charles Fourier (1772-1837): its life

The father of Charles Fourier was notable of Besancon, easy merchant of cloths died in 1781; his/her mother was a pious and little educated woman, resulting from a family of Besancon-native tradesmen. Charles Fourier made of good studies until the 16 years age, in the ecclesiastics of the college of Besancon. In 1791, it enters in training to Lyon. It fights in 1793 with the Lyons federalists, then it is enlisted in 1794 at the time of the Levy in masse to spend eighteen months in the Palatinat with the Armée with the Rhine. In spite of its aversion for the trade in particular, it is obliged, following cruel reverses of fortune appeared since 1793, to work as clerk-merchant or clerk-traveller with Lyon under the Consulate and the Empire. Between 1815 and 1820, it resides close to Belley in parents. After a few years lived between Lyon and Paris, it settles in the capital in 1826.

It poses into 1808 the bases of a reflection on a Community company in its work Théorie of the four movements and the general destinies , which it continued in the form of a great treaty known as of domestic and agricultural Association . This monumental work is published, although unfinished, in 1822. With an aim of being included/understood better, it was then forced to write a summary of its theory, heading the New Industrial world and member , whom it publishes in 1829.

It constitutes the École member with around him: Just Muiron (since 1814), Clarisse Vigoureux (about 1822), Victor Considering (as from 1825). The group of the disciples, who were a few tens at the end of the Restoration, is packed under the monarchy of July, with for example Jules Lechevalier or Abel Transon, defectors of the Saint-Simonism. This school publishes the Phalanstery (1832). Fourier knows a beginning of notoriety in the last years of his life, but there remains a solitary man.

The Phalanstery

The Phalanstery draws its name from the contraction of the word " phalange" (grouping) and of the word " stère" (of monastery: establishment where monks live in community). It is formed by free association and the affectionate agreement their members. For the author, the phalansteries will form the base of a new State.

In the theory of Charles Fourier, the phalanstery is a kind of co-operative hotel being able to accommodate 400 families (surroundings 2000 members) in the middle of field of 400 hectares where one cultivates the fruits and the flowers above all. Fourier will describe with leisure the heated corridors, the large refectories and the pleasant rooms.

Intended to shelter 1800 to 2000 members, the phalanstery is a building of very big size: a length of 600 measuring apparatuses, is approximately 1200 m, to compare with the 500m castle of Versailles; an occupied surface - frame and not built - of approximately 4 square kilometers; arcades, large galleries facilitating the meetings and circulation all times; specialized rooms of great dimension (central Turn-clock, Stock Exchange, Opera, workshops, kitchens); private apartments and many public rooms; wings reserved for the " caravansérail" and with the noisy activities; a main courtyard of 600m X 300m, in which the large gallery of Louvre would hold; a court of winter of 300 side m (to be compared with the 100m place of the Vosges) planted evergreen trees; gardens and multiple rural buildings…

The phalansteries were the subject of many attempts at application in France and to the United States at the 19th century, but all failed more or less quickly. But after 1968, the idea stimulated certain initiatives, in particular the community of Longo May in Provence.

The thought of Charles Fourier

The search of Fourier is that of a universal harmony. It presents its theory like resulting from a scientific discovery in the passion field, completing the theory of the gravitation of Isaac Newton in the material field. Within the framework of this theory of impassioned Attraction, the universe would be in relation to human passions, which it would reflect. Thus he declares possible to inform itself on the human passion situations by in particular observing the terrestrial animals and plants, and by applying to these observations an analogical reasoning of which it gives some keys.

Fourier theorizes much and manages from there to classify each type of man and each type of woman in 810 categories exactly. These categories correspond to as many different passions, under-passions, under-under-passions, etc. On this basis of 1620 characters which it calls a phalange, it throws the organization of the composed phalansteries, as it should be, of as many people.

In fact, each person within the phalanstery works according to her affinities, while granting a place particular to the Agriculture, like with the Art S and the Science S.

It thus poses the first bases of a critical reflection relating to the incipient industrial society and its defects more shouting. According to him, to put an end to the defects of the company civilized , it is enough to make confidence with the indications given by impassioned Attraction , this impulse given by nature before to the reflection, and persistent in spite of the opposition of the duty, the prejudice, etc .

Charles Fourier considers thus that the natural attraction of human for the activity and the virtue is completely blocked and perverted by work, a state where the man asserts on regret a torment , and by morals, this enemy mortal of impassioned attraction .

He thus proposes, after ripe calculations and reflections, these ideal companies made up of a phalange of 1620 individuals of all ages, named phalansteries where each one is activated in multiple groups attended successively in the course of the day. The principal groups are called series, made up the people brought together passionately by identity of taste for some function . Integration in the group is carried out with complete freedom and by reciprocal choice, as nowadays would constitute an orchestra ambitious amateur.

It should be known that each one is remunerated there after distribution of the annual dividends of the phalanstery initially between the series, then between the groups which compose them. Then the distribution between the individuals comes. The method is identical for each scale: the amount depends on the row occupied in the phalanstery. This row is given according to various criteria, applied inside three classes: need, utility and approval. It is not the commercial value of the products which enters in account, but their capacity to cause the desire to produce, and their potential of harmonization of the phalanstery (mechanical of attraction and harmony). The distribution between the individual interest and the collective interest is carried out equitably thanks to the existence of crossed interests, of the fact even of the participation of each individual in many groups (effect of the free rise of the passion of the change, the flickers ). The dividends allotted to the group are then distributed between the individuals who compose it, by taking care well to be based on cupidity in first (direct agreement), so that generosity (indirect agreement) can be expressed then. Are thus made up three batches, 5 with 6/12e for work, 4/12e for the capital and 2 with 3/12e for the talent (batch from which the beginners are excluded).

The dividends thus perceived come into positive on the account from each individual (and not of each family, children being émancipés as of the 3 years age). On this account are registered into negative the annual minimum wages guaranteed to each one as of age the three years completed, and the cost of the goods and services which it obtained from the phalanstery during the year (costumes, meal, other supplies and services…). The positive balance is thus distributed only at the end of the year, and only with their majority for the minors.

Charles Fourier thus promotes several ideas very innovating of which the creation of Crèche S, one of the first attempts at Women's Liberation. It is necessary to insist on the free one and wise audacity of Fourier at one time when the women are in position subordinate: the social progress, writes it, take place because of progress of the women towards the freedom and the declines of order social because of the waning of freedom of the women. (Theory of the Four movements).

Extremely of its convictions, it tries to make carry out an experimental phalanstery by some Mécène S fortunate, but that point does not reach of alive sound. After its death, some attempts at creation of utopian communities take place well, but separately the Familistère of Godin, all failed because of internal quarrels. In any event, none approaches the happiness promised by the socialist theorist, because of nonthe respect of its regulations, undoubtedly too libertarian for the time of their realization.

At all events, by its reflection on the organization of work, on the relations between the sexes, the individual and the company,… it seems a French precursor and socialism and feminism.

Achievements

The thought of Charles Fourier inspired by many achievements. It was the case in France (Cop-on-Vesgre in 1833, Cîteaux in 1841…), in French possessions (Saint-Denis-of-Sig the, Algeria, in 1846), or in other countries like the Brazil, the Romania, or the the United States (“the Meeting” - Texas - in the years 1850). To Own way (Aisne), Jean-Baptiste Godin led in the second part of the XIXe century an experiment of Familistère partially inspired of the phalanstery. Fourier found a singular topicality in France of the years 1960-1970.

Anecdotes

One-to-one with itself

From 1825 to 1835, Charles Fourier invited to expose every Thursday of possible patrons to dining with him, them his project of phalanstery and to convince them to finance it. Hopelessly awaiting an industrial rich person as fortunate as enthusiastic, he finally only dined all these Thursdays during ten years…

The fourth apple: its criticism of the company

Marx and Engels see in its utopian thought a radical criticism of the company of their time. Its thought lies initially in a sour criticism of the industrial society which it describes as industrial anarchy, then that of the commercial company: apprentice, Charles Fourier had been obliged by his owner to plunge grains in water, in order to increase by them the weight and thus the price.

One evening, Fourier sees in a Parisian great restaurant a customer (for the legend: Brillat-Savarin, celebrates it gastronome) to pay an apple 14 pennies, whereas the morning-even with Rouen, city which it has just left, it had just bought some for the hundredth of this sum! For Fourier, such a distortion in the prices is completely unjustified and condemns any company based on the tariffed exchange and competes with it.

But large theorist, it discovers whereas the progress of humanity is marked out by 4 famous apples:

that which Eve offered to Adam,

that which Pâris offered to Venus,

that which Newton took on the head while sleeping,

and his (apple of Fourier) which reveals to him the maleficence of the intermediaries, mercantile feudality, the extent of commercial imposture, and at the same time the principle of the attraction of human passions that the messages of apple bind!

Some aspects of the theory of impassioned Attraction

Charles Fourier estimates that impassioned Attraction, this impulse given by nature before to the reflection, and persistent in spite of the opposition of the reason, the duty, the prejudice , is expressed in each human being via twelve pivots. He calls these pivots the twelve passions radical . The free rise of those led to satisfy the need for unit, or uniteism , pledge of the universal harmony of human between them and with nature. It distinguishes as follows:

five sensual passions, tending to open out the five physiological directions;
four emotional passions, tending to form groups spontaneously: ambition, friendship, love, famillism ;
three organizing passions, tending to harmonize between them the nine preceding ones: cabalist or taste of the intrigue and calculation, flickers or taste of the change, composite or taste for the assembly of the pleasures of the directions and the heart which generates the exaltation.

In the cycle of the 80.000 year old humanity presented by Charles Fourier, the eighth period that he regards as the first phase of Harmony breaks with the system of domination to the profit of a system of association domestic and agricultural . Thanks to the abundance generated by the free course left with the natural productivity of human, the Phalanstery is a place of luxurious life, and at the same time the basic unit of the production. It includes/understands an immense palate prolonged by rural buildings, beyond the main road which limits the main courtyard. In Harmony, manufacturing industry is subordinated to the agriculture, it even carried out in bond with the cultures and local passions. The real unit is thus placed in a variegated and interlaced pastoral decoration, because of the research of the best soil for each cultivated species. Charles Fourier names such an agricultural organization the order geared to distinguish it from the massive order , that of the traditional agriculture which presents cultures and forests in great separate masses.

The planet is freely and constantly traversed by large bands made up mainly of young men and women, accompanied by adults of ripe age impassioned of adventure. They ensure work of exceptional width, and their successive passages in the phalansteries of planet cause in particular the intrigues in love which return the life in worthy Harmony to be lived. Placed on the last floor in the caravanserais, they are nourished by the phalansterian ones with the very gastronomical mets and preparations that the organization in impassioned series makes it possible to produce in great quantity and without effort. The festivals follow one another during the stay, with colourful spectacles whose excellence is made possible by the importance given to the performing arts, choreography and the gymnastics in education as of more the young age.

In a phalanstery, the days of activity are long, the nights are short. The phalansterian ones do not know tiredness due to the monotony of the tasks, with the non-observance of the natural rates/rhythms, the dissensions generated by the absence of choice of the companions of production and with the hierarchy nonfounded on the talent. Quite to the contrary, to activate itself successively in many impassioned groups is a joy of the every day, which leads old age to be beautiful and attracting. Thus the consideration and the affection of young people fall him naturally.

Some quotations

Any passion blocked produces its against-passion which is as malfaisante as natural passion would have been beneficial.

happiness consists in having much passions and much of means of satisfying them. Theory of the four mouvemens and the general destinies , Lyon, Pelzin, 1808, p. 129

If your sciences dictated by wisdom were used only to perpetuate indigence and tearings, rather give us the sciences dictated by the madness, provided that they calm the furies, that they relieve miseries of the people.

to form a phalange of impassioned series (a canton member of 1800 people), it is necessary to make burst at least fifty thousand discords, before organizing the agreements. The New Industrial world and Member, Flammarion 1973 p. 75

two radical defects the current organization of work: industrial parcelling out and fardée commercial fraud of the name of free competition . The New Industrial world and Member, Flammarion 1973 p. 68

Obliged to uncover vicious professions here, trades and others, I do not blame those which benefit from it: the wrong is with the policy civilized which pushes the people with the defect, while opening to them of another way of fortune only the practice of cheating . The New Industrial world and Member, Flammarion 1973 p. 33

In the civilized order where the truth and justice do not lead to fortune, it is impossible that they are preferred; also one sees cheating and the injustice to dominate in any civilized legislation, and to increase because of progress of industry and sciences .

One cannot organize Series impassioned without a great inequality of fortune, characters, tastes and instincts: if this scale of inequality did not exist, it would have to be created, to establish it in all directions, before being able to associate passion the . The New Industrial world and Member, Flammarion 1973 p. 42

the study of impassioned attraction leads directly to discovered mechanism member; but if one wants to study association before attraction, one runs the risk to be mislaid during centuries in the false methods, to reject and believe impossibility. The New Industrial world and Member, Flammarion 1973 p. 39

One only endeavors in Harmony to assist Attraction, to support the rise of nature, with as much of care than civilization in met to choke it .

a small test tried on 700 people will decide the general metamorphosis suddenly, because one will see there realized all the benefits which philosophy is restricted to dream, real freedom, unit of action, reigns of the truth and justice become ways of fortune .

the people requires that it is dazzled and not that it is lit.

One starts by saying: that is impossible to be exempted to try it, and that becomes impossible, indeed, because it is not tried.

In fact the pleasures are malfaisants, but only the scarcity of the pleasures, from which is born excess.

the extension of the privileges of the women is the general principle of all social progress.

the happiness of the man, in love, is proportioned with the freedom which the women enjoy.

Works of Charles Fourier

On the commercial charlatanries , Lyon, 16 p., 1807
Theory of the 4 movements and the general destinies , Lyon, 1808
the new world in love , 1816 (first publication 1967)
Treated domestic-agricultural association , 2 volumes, Lyon, 1822
Theory of the universal unit , 1822-1823 Summary
and advertisements of the Treaty of domestic-agricultural association , Paris, London, 1823 geographical
Mnemonic or method to learn in few lessons the geography, the statistics and the policy. , Paris, 1824
the New industrial world and member or invention of the process of etnaturelle attractive industry, distributed in impassioned series , Paris and London, 1829
the New industrial world, or invention of the process of attractive and combined industry, distributed in impassioned series. Booklet of advertisements , Paris, 1830
Traps and charlatanism of two sects SAINT-SIMON and OWEN, which promise association and progress. , Paris, 1831
distorts It parcelled out and the antidote, industry natural, combined being repugnant to and untrue industry, attractive, veracious giving quadruple produced , 2 volumes, Paris, 1835-1836
Plan of the Treaty of the passion attraction, which should be published in 1821 , Paris, 1836
PostSriptum with the confidential Letter of the members of the meeting of July 31st… , Paris, 1837
complete Works , 6 vol., Paris, the Phalange, 1841-1845
Handwritten , 10 volumes, Paris, the Phalange, 1845-49
Of industrial and scientific anarchy , Paris, Phalansterian Bookstore, 1847
Handwritten - 4 volumes, Paris, Phalansterian Bookstore, 1851-1858
Hierarchy of the cuckoldry , Paris, ED. Century, 1924
the new world in love , Paris, Anthropos, 1967
complete Works, 12 volumes, Paris, Anthropos, 1966-68
the subversive order. Three texts on Civilization , Paris, Montaigne Sapwood, 1972
the made up charm , Paris, Fata Morgana, 88 p., 1976
Hierarchy of the cuckoldry , ED. Analatyca, 77 p., 1990
Citerlogue, agreement of morals with the natural rights by made up absorption , Paris, Fata Morgana, 88 p., 1994
the new world in love , Paris, Stock, 515 p., 1999

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