7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
1/11
A V R A H A M Y A S S O U R
C O M M U N I S M A N D U T O P I A : M A R X , E N G E L S A N D F O U R I E R
. . . r i en n ' an n o n ce l a r~ g n e d e l 'h a rmo n ie
. . . - A . B R E T O N 1
K a r l M a r x m e n t i o n e d F o u r i e r f o r t h e f i rs t t i m e o n 1 6 O c t e r b e r 1 8 42 i n a n
a r t i c l e i n t h e
Rheinische Zeitung.
I t w a s s h o r t l y a f t e r h i s a p p o i n t m e n t a s
e d i t o r o f t h a t l i b e r a l j o u r n a l f i n a n c e d b y R h i n e l a n d i n d u s t r i a l is t s 2 a t a t i m e
w h e n h e f e l t o b l i g e d t o d e f e n d t h e p a p e r a g a i n st c h a rg e s o f C o m m u n i s m . T h e
c o n t e x t w a s t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f M o s e s H e s s ' a r t i c le s o n h o u s in g p r o b l e m s a n d
c o m m u n i s t i c f o r m s o f g o v e r n m e n t , a n d h is r e p o r t o n a m e e t i n g h e l d in
S t r a s b o u r g a t w h i c h F o u r i e r ' s d i sc i p le s h a d p r o p o s e d w a y s o f i m p r o v i n g th e
c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p o o r . 3 In h i s o w n a r t ic l e M a r x d e c l a r e d t h a t :
t h e
Rehinische Zeitung . . .
wil l submit these [comm unis t ic] ideas to thorough cr i t i-
c ism . . . . We a re f i rm ly co n v in ced th a t i t i s n o t t h e practical effort but ra ther the theo-
re t ical exp l icat ion o f communis t ic ideas which i s the real
danger ... Ideas
w o n b y o u r
inte ll igence, em bodied in our ou t loo k , a nd fo rgo t te n in our conscience, are chains f rom
which w e ca nnot tear ourselves awa y wi tho u t b reak ing our hearts. 4
W h a t d i d M a r x k n o w a t t h e t im e a b o u t F o u r i e r ' s te a c h i n gs o r a b o u t
s o c ia l is m a n d C o m m u n i s m i n g e n er a l? I n h is h o m e t o w n o f T r ie r , L u d w i g
G a l l ( ' t h e f i rs t G e r m a n S o c i a l i s t ' ) h a d p u b l i c i z e d F o u r i e r ' s i d e a s , a n d e v e n
s o u g h t t o a p p l y t h e m p e r s o n a l l y in a F o u r i e r i s t p h a l a n s t e r y in A m e r i c a . I n
B e r li n , H e i n r i c h H e in e a n d E d w a r d G a n s h a d d i s s e m i n a t e d th e t h e o r ie s o f
S a i n t - S i m o n . H e s s , w h o s p e n t s o m e t i m e i n P a r i s a n d w a s w e l l a c q u a i n t e d
w i t h F r e n c h s o c i a l is t s a l so d i d a g r e a t d e a l t o p o p u l a r i z e t h e i r i d e a s , s I t
w a s H e s s w h o i n f l u e n c e d E n g el s a n d B a k u n i n a n d b r o u g h t t h e m c l os e r t o
s o c i a l i s m , p o s s i b l y d o i n g t h e s a m e f o r M a r x .
T h e i n f l u e n c e o f L o r e n z v o n S t e i n 's
Sozialismus und Kommunismus des
heutigen Frankreichs w h i c h a p p e a r e d i n N o v e m b e r , 1 8 4 2, i s m o r e p r o b l e m -
a t ic . 6 W a s i t r e a l ly , a s M a r x a s s e r te d , t h e o n l y s o u r c e . . , f o r t h e c h a ra c t e ri -
z a t i o n o f t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a c la ss w i t h o u t a n y p r o p e r t y
w h o s e p r o b l e m s w e r e d e a f l y d i s c e rn i b le i n M a n c h e s t e r, P a r is a n d L y o n ? O n e
c a n a g re e w i t h S h l o m o A v i n e r i th a t y o n S t e i n 's b o o k c o u l d n o t b y i t s e lf
Studies in Soviet Thought
2 6 ( 1 98 3 ) 2 1 7 - 2 2 7 . 0 0 3 9 - 3 7 9 7 / 8 3 / 0 2 6 3 - 0 2 1 7 $ 01 .1 0.
1983 by D. ReidelPublishing Co.
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
2/11
218 AVRAHAM YASSOUR
account for Marx' knowledge o f socialism at the time. He must have derived
something, at least, on the theoretical plane, from Hegel whose hilosophy
of Right
he knew by heart (especially important are the paragraphs 243-
245), and Fourier's ideas were already accessible to him through von Ro-
chau's book. 7
It is interesting in this context to note Engels' revealing comment just one
year later that the French Communists could help us only in the early stages
of our - development . 8 In the first part of an article on France written in
18439 Engels had praised Fourier as a social philosopher who had established
the axiom: As each individual has a passion or inclination for a certain kind
of work, the totality of these inclinations will naturally constitute a force
capable of satisfying the needs of society as a whole . According to Engels,
Fourier's great discovery was the assumption that compulsion would no
longer be necessary in order to supply the needs of society. His audacity in
envisaging the possibility of free labour, is definitely wor thy of the attention
of English socialists , wrote Engels, recommending Fourier's writings to the
readers of an Owenite periodical.
In another article written in Manchester at the end of 1843 which greatly
impressed Marx, 'Outline of a Critique of Political Economy', Engels again
mentioned Fourier in the context of his discussion of a future society which
would be free of competition and its curse, so that it will be able to regulate
production and control wealth .
Der einzig
positive
Fortschritt, den die liberale Okonomie gemacht hat, ist die Entwick-
lung des gesetze des Privateigentums . . . Um aber fiber dieses Verh~iltnis und die yon
einem verniJnftigen Zust//nde der Gemeinde zur erwartende Steigerung der Produktion-
skraft richtig zu urteilen, m6gen meine Leser die Schriften der englischen Sozialisten
und zum Teil auch Fouriers vergleichen, O
Similarly in the case of Marx there is no doubt that he made a serious
effort to acquaint himself thoroughly with the writings of the French social-
ists, including Fourier - all of whose available works were to be found in
his library.
At the end of 1843 Marx had arrived in Paris, which seemed to him to be
an ancient bastion of philosophy and the modern capital of the modern
world . He was met there by Arnold Ruge, who even proposed that together
with other German 6migr6s they should set up a commune on the Fourierist
model. 11 Marx' earlier letter to Ruge, written from Kreuznach in September
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
3/11
C O M M U N I S M A N D U T O P I A 2 1 9
1 8 4 3 i n d i c a te s h i s o w n p o s i t io n o n t h e r e la t io n s h i p b e t w e e n p h i l o s o p h y a n d
p r a x i s a n d h i s g r o w i n g i n te r e s t i n F r e n c h s o c ia l is t t h e o r i e s.
I am no t therefore for hoist ing a dogm atic banner. Quite the reverse. We m ust t ry to
help the dogmatists to clarify their ideas. In particular,
ommunism
is a dogmatic ab-
stract ion and by Co mm unism I do no t refer to some imagined, possible Com munism, bu t
to Com munism as i t actually exists in the teaching of C abet , D6zam y and Weit ling, etc.
This Co mm unism is itself on ly a particular m anifestation o f the hum anistic p rinciple and
is infected by its opposite, private property. The abolition of private property is, there-
fore, by n o m eans identical with Com munism, and Com munism has seen othe r socialistic
theories,
such
as those o f Fourier and Proudhon, r ising up in opposi tion to i t , no t fortui-
tou sly bu t n ecessarily, because it is only a particular, on e-sided realization o f the princi-
ple o f socialism.12
A t t h e t im e t h a t M a r x w r o t e t h is l e t te r h e w a s w o r k i n g h a r d o n h is d e -
t a il ed s t u d y o f H e g e l s
P h i lo s o p h y o f R i g h t
a n d i n c re a s in g l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h
t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m t h e c r i t i q u e o f re l ig i o n t o t h e c r i t i q u e o f p o l it ic s . I t w a s
i n t h i s p e r i o d t h a t M a r x b e g a n t o l o o k f o r a s o c i o l o g ic a l t h e o r y o f p o l i t ic s
a s a n a l te r n a ti v e t o d o g m a t i c C o m m u n i s m w h i c h a l to g e t h e r d i sr e g a rd e d
i n d iv i d u a l e x i s te n c e . A g a i n s t t h is b a c k g r o u n d , F o u r i e r a n d P r o u d h o n a re
m e n t i o n e d b y M a r x a s re p r e s e n ti n g i d e o l o g ie s w h i c h p o s i t m o r e th a n m e r e l y
a n a b s t r a c t a b o l i t io n o f p r iv a t e p r o p e r t y .
I n h i s l e t t e r t o R u g e , M a r x h a d s ti ll p l a c e d h i s h o p e s i n a r e f o r m o f c o n -
s c i o u s n e s s a s t h e r e d e e m i n g a c t . U p o n h i s a r ri va l i n P a r is , h o w e v e r , h e b e -
c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e p o s s ib i li ti e s o f c o n c r e t e p o l i ti c a l a c t io n ,
f a m i l i a r i z i n g h i m s e l f w i t h v a r i o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y g r o u p s i n t h e F r e n c h c a p i t a l .
I t w a s al so in P a ri s t h a t h e c o m p o s e d t h e i m p o r t a n t w o r k w h i c h h a s s ub -
s e q u e n t l y b e c o m e k n o w n as t h e Ec onomic and Ph i lo soph ic a l M anusc r ip t s
( 1 8 4 4 ) . la T h e s e m a n u s c r i p t s r ev e a l th e y o u n g M a r x a c q u a i n t i n g h i m s e l f w i t h
t h e ac h ie v e me n t s o f p o l it i c a l e c o n o m y a n d t h e f ir s t i n v e s t ig a t io n s o f t h e
d e g r a d e d c o n d i t io n s o f t h e w o r k in g - c la s s p r o d u c e d b y t h e I n d u s tr i al R e v o l u -
t io n . B l e n d in g p h il o s o p h i c a l c o n c e p t s d e r iv e d f r o m H e g e l a n d F e u e r b a c h
w i t h t h o s e o f c la ss ic a l p o l it ic a l e c o n o m y , M a r x c a m e t o a t t r i b u t e p o v e r t y a n d
a l ie n a t i o n t o t h e d i v i si o n o f la b o u r a n d p r iv a t e p r o p e r t y , t o h i r e d l a b o u r a n d
c l a s s d i v i s i o n s i n c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y .
I n t h e s e c t i o n o f t h e m a n u s c r i p t s d i s c u ss i n g t h e a n t it h e s i s b e t w e e n p r i v a t e
p r o p e r t y a n d C o m m u n i s m , M a r x e v o k e s t h e t h e o ri es o f F o u r ie r , P r o u d h o n
a n d S a i n t - S i m o n . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e f i r s t h e o b s e r v e d t h a t :
Fourier, like the Physiocrats, regarded agriculture as at least the
best
form of labour,
while Saint-Simon on the other hand declared
industrial labour
as
such
to be the essence
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
4/11
220 AVRAHAM YASSOUR
and consequently wants exclusive rule by the industrialists and the improvement of the
condition of the workers. 14
Marx concluded that c o m m u n i s m is the pos i t i v e expression of the aboli-
tion of private property and at first appears as
universal
private proper ty . :s
This chapter of the manuscripts contains a critical survey of 'crude' and
'egalitarian' Communism which Marx contrasts to his own concept of it as
the true a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f t h e h u m a n essence through and for man . This
line of thought is connect ed with an earlier section entitled E s t ra n g e d L a b o u r
where Marx no longer sees alienated labour as just anothe r form of work but
as a funct ion of the pro duct ion system, the abol ition of which alone can lead
to the eradication of dehumanize d labour:
The devaluation of the human world grows in direct proportion to the increase in value
of the world of things. Labour not only produces commodities; it also produces itself
and the workers as a commodity and it does so in the same proportion in which it pro-
duces commodities in general. This fact simply means that the object that labour pro-
duces, its product, stands opposed to it as something alien, as a power independent of
the producer . . . . The realization of labour is its objectification. In the sphere of politi-
cal economy this realization appears as a loss of reality for the worker, objectification as
loss of and bondage to the object, and appropriation as estrangement, as alienation
[Entiiusserung] .16
The revolution ary lessons to be derived from Marx' critique of bourgeois
political economy first emerge however into the foreground in the work he
co-authored with Engels in 1845 as a settling of accounts with their Young
Hegelian contemporaries - The H o l y F a m i l y - Subtitled A Cri t iqu e o f Crit i-
c al C r it iq u e ; A g a i n s t B r u n o B a u e r a n d C o m p a n y . Marx now develops in
radical form, the antithes is he had evoked in his earlier manuscripts.
Proletariat and wealth are opposites; as such they form a single whole. They are both
forms of the world of private property . . . Private property, as wealth is compelled to
maintain itself, and thereby its opposite, the proletariat, in existence. That is the positive
side of the contradiction - self-satisfied private property . . . . Within this antithesis the
private owner is therefore the conservative side, the proletarian, the destructive side.
From the former arises the action of preserving the antithesis, from the latter, that of
annihilating it. 17
T h e H o l y F a m i l y was an important stage in the theoretical development of
Marx and Engels towards relating their philosophical and historical views to
the struggle of the wor king classes for social emancipat ion. Significantly, they
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
5/11
CO M M U N I SM A N D U T O P I A 221
d i d n o t ove r l ook t he r o le o f F r e nc h m a t e r i a l is m i n t he e m e r ge n c e o f S oc ia li st -
C o m m u n i s t i d e o l o g y , b e g i n n in g w i t h t h e e x a m p l e o f F o u r i e r h i m s e l f :
As C artesian materialism merges into
natu ral science
proper, the other branch o f French
materialism leads direct to
Socialism
and
C o m m u n i s m . . . . F o u ri er
proceeds imm ediately
from the teaching of the French materialists. The Babouv is t s w ere coarse, uncivilized
materialists, but mature C om mun ism too comes direct ly from Fr enc h Materialism. 18
N e ve r t he l e s s , bo t h M a r x a nd E nge l s w e r e w e l l a w a r e o f t he l i m i t a t i ons o f
F ou r i e r a nd c r it i ca l o f t he a po l i ti c a l na t u r e o f m uc h o f h i s t he o r i z ing . I n t h is
r e sp e c t t h e y s ti ll p r e fe r r e d t h e P r o u d h o n w h o h a d a u t h o r e d W h a t is P r o p e r t y ?
- a po l i ti c a l pa m ph l e t t ha t t he y r a nke d w i t h S i~ye s e poc h a l
Q u e s t - c e q u e
l e t i er s E t a t ?
F o u r i e r s i m p o r t a n c e w a s s e en a s t h a t o f a f o r e r u n n e r , l ik e A d a m
S m i t h , R i c a r d o a n d S a in t -S i m o n , w i t h o u t w h o m t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y S o ci al is t
c r it iq u e o f p r i v a te p r o p e r t y w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n p o s s ib l e.
M a r x a nd E nge l s w e r e a l s o f a m i l i a r w i t h F ou r i e r s v i ew s on s uc h s ub j e c t s
a s m or a l i t y , m a r r i a ge , the f a m i l y a nd f e m a l e l i be r a t i on a nd t he y u s e d the i r
know l e dge o f h i s ge ne ra l s oc i al ph i l o s o phy t o unc o ve r p la g i a ri s m s a nd m i s -
quo t a t i ons i n t he w or ks o f r i va l G e r m a n t he o r e t i c i a ns . T h i s i s e s pe c i a l l y
e v i d e n t i n t h e i r n e x t j o i n t w o r k - T h e
G e r m a n I d e o l o gy ,
w r i t t e n i n 1 8 4 5 - 6
bu t ne ve r pub l i s he d d u r i ng t he i r l i fe t im e s .
T h i s book c on t a i n s a s pe c i a l s e c t i on on F ou r i e r 19 i n w h i c h t he a u t ho r s
e x t o l h i s ana l y s is o f a g r i c u lt u r e , i ndu s t r y a nd c om m e r c e , no t i ng tha t t he
c r i ti que o f c i v i l i z a t ion i s t he m a i n pa r t o f h i s s oc ia l t he o r y . I t is e v i de n t
t ha t M a r x a n d E nge ls ha d i nde e d r e a d h i s w o r ks c a r e f u l ly a nd r e j e c t e d t he
s upe r fi c ia l s um m a r y o f i t i n the w r i t ings o f t he G e r m a n t r ue s oc i a l i s t , K a r l
G r 6n . 2 T h e y t oo k s e r ious l y F o u r i e r s v i ew s on t he c e n t r a l i t y o f c ha nge s in
p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f F o u r i e r s g if t f o r a c u t e s o c ia l o b s e r v a t io n
a nd h i s p r opos a l s i n t he a r e a o f voc a t i ona l e duc a t i on . G r t i n s v i e w o f F ou r i e r
a s a m a t he m a t i c a l s oc ia l is t d i d no t do j u s t i c e to t he p r o f u nd i t y o f t he
F r e n c h c r i t ique o f s o c i e t y w h i c h i n t he v i e w o f M a r x a nd E nge ls , w a s f a r
s upe r i o r t o G e r m a n t r ue s oc i a li s m . T he l a t t e r w a s a pa l e i m i t a t i on o f t he
o r i g i na l i de a s o f F ou r i e r w h i c h i nvo l ve d a ba s i c s t r uc t u r a l c ha nge i n s oc i e t y
a r is ing f r om a dec i s ive c r i t i c i sm o f i t s c iv i l i za t ion . 21 Tho ug h c r i t i ca l a t t ime s
o f t h e p o e t i c f o r m i n w h i c h F o u r i e r w r a p p e d h i s s o c i a l t h e o r y , M a r x a n d
Enge l s emphas i sed i t s subvers ive qua l i t i e s and va lue as a s t imulus to ac t ion .
E nge ls , in pa r t i c u l a r , w a s i m pr e s s e d b y t he b r i l li a n t s a t ir e s o f F ou r i e r a nd
t he w a y i n w h i c h he s n i pe d a t bou r g e o i s hypoc r i c i e s a nd l if e -s t y le s .
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
6/11
2 2 2 A V R A H A M Y A S S O U R
M a r x ' c h a ng i n g a t t i t u d e t o F o u r i e r d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d m i g h t p e r h a p s b e
i n f e r r e d f r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g s t o r y : I n a l e t t e r t o P . V . A n n e n k o v ( d a t e d
D e c e m b e r 2 8 , 1 8 4 6 ) , h e w r o t e t h a t P r o u d h o n t o o k a g r e a t d e a l f r o m F o u r i e r
a n d h is w o r d s s e e m e d e m p t y a n d o v e r b l o w n c o m p a r e d t o F o u r i e r ' s so c ia l is t
s e n s i t i v i t y ) 2 W h e n A n n e n k o v p u b l i s h e d a n e x c e r p t f r o m t h i s l e t t e r i n 1 8 8 0 23
i n w h i c h h e t o l d o f h i s r e la t i o n s a n d m e e t i n g s w i t h M a r x a n d o f t h e l a t t e r ' s
a t t i t u d e t o P r o u d h o n , M a r x f o u n d it n e c e s s a r y t o n o t e i n t h e m a r g i n : I
w r o t e t h e o p p o s i t e o f w h a t h e a t t r i b u t e s to m e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h F o u r i e r .
F o u r i e r w a s t h e f i rs t t o r i d i c u l e t h e i d e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e p e t t y b o u r g e o i s i e . 24
I n t h e s a m e l e t t e r , M a r x w r o t e t h a t h e h a d n o t m a n a g e d t o h a v e h i s c r i t iq u e
o f t h e G e r m a n p h i l o s o p h e r s a n d s o c i al i st s p u b l i s h e d ( t h e r e f e r e n c e is t o
The
German Ideology , a n d o b s e r v e d i n c o n c l u s i o n t h a t q u i t e a f e w in h i s o w n
' p a r t y ' a r e a n g r y w i t h m e b e c a u s e I h a v e c o m e o u t a g a in s t t h e U t o p i a n s an d
t h e i r s p e e c h e s . 2s T h e c l as s ic f o r m u l a t i o n o f M a r x ' a n d E n g e l s ' a t t i t u d e t o
t h e U t o p i a n s o c ia l is t s h a d , o f c o u r s e, b e e n s t a t e d i n t h e i r
Com mun is t Man i-
f e s to
o f 1 8 4 7 :
T he socia lis t and com m unis t systems, pr ope rly so-called, those of Saint-Simon, Fou rier,
Ow en and o the rs , sp r ing in to ex is tence in th e ea r ly undeve loped pe r iod desc r ibed above ,
of the s truggle between prole taria t and bourgeois ie . The founders of these systems see ,
indeed , the c lass an tagonisms as we l l a s the ac t ion o f th e decompos ing e lements in the
preva il ing fo rm of soc ie ty . But the p ro le ta r ia t , a s ye t in i t s in fancy , o ffe rs to them the
spec tac le o f a c lass wi tho u t any h is to r ica l in i t iat ive o r any indepen den t po l i t ica l move-
m ent . . . His to r ica l ac t ion is to y ie ld to the i r pe rsona l invent ive ac tion , h is to r ica lly -
c rea ted cond i t ions o f em anc ipa t ion to fan tas t ic ones . . . These p roposa ls , the re fore , a re
of a pure ly Utop ian character. Th e s ignificance o f Crit ical-U topian Socialism an d Com-
munism bears an inverse re la t ion to h is to r ica l deve lopm ent . . . The o r ig ina to rs o f these
sys tems were , in ma ny respec ts , revo lu t ionary , the i r d isc ip les have in every case fo rm ed
mere re ac t ionary sec ts . '26
W h a t t h e y o p p o s e d i n U t o p i a n S o c i a l i sm w a s a v is i o n o f t h e f u t u r e d e -
t a c h e d f r o m t h e e x i s t i n g cl as s s t ru g g l e in c a p i t a l i s t i c s o c i e t y . U t o p i a n i s m
r e f l e c t e d t h e i m m a t u r i t y o f t h e s o c i al st r ug g l e. I t r e v e a l e d a y e a r n i n g f o r t h e
a b o l i t i o n o f c la s s es w h i l e s e e k i n g t o a v o i d c l a s s s t r u g g l e a n d p o l i t i c a l r e v o l u -
t i o n i n w h i c h t h e w o r k i n g c l as s w o u l d b e t h e c e n t r a l a g en t o f c h a n ge . C o n -
s e q u e n t l y , t h e u t o p i a n s r e m a i n e d m e r e p r e a c h e r s o r ' i n v e n to r s ' o f a n e w
w o r l d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e i r i n c i s i v e c r i t i q u e o f b o u r g e o i s s o c i e t y w a s v a l i d ,
e v en r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n m a n y r e s p e c t s .
T h e q u e s t i o n r e m a i n s h o w e v e r a s t o w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s a n y s i m i l a r i t y
b e t w e e n t h e s o c i a l , d e s i r e d f u t u r e i n M a r x ' s o w n p h i l o s o p h y ( ' s c i e n t i f i c '
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
7/11
COMMUNISM AND UTOPIA 223
socialism notwithst andi ng) and that of his great utopi an predecessors - above
all Fourier.
In the
C o m m u n i s t M a n i fe s to ,
Marx had formulated thus his vision of the
future:
In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have
an association in which the free development of each is the condition for the free devel-
opment of all.2s
One of its required conditions is repudiating the domi nat ion of the la-
bour of others by the acquisition of social products - a clear echo of the
views put forward by Fourier and other utopian socialist thinkers.
Marx's in nova tio n lay in his econo mic and sociological analysis of such
appropria tion as a form of hu man self-alienation in capitalist society. In his
own words:
The consideration of
division o f labour
and
exchange
is one of the greatest interest, since
they are the percept ible , a l ienated expression of human ac t iv i t y , and capacities as the
activity and capacities
proper to a spec ies . . . .
Product is an objectification of labour.
The performance of work is at the same time its objectification. The performance of
work appears in the sphere of political economy as a
vi t ia t ion
of the worker, objectifica-
tion as a
loss
and as
serv itude to the ob jec t ,
and appropriation as alienation. 29
What Marx shared with Fouri er was rather the recogni tion that instead of
bringing pleasure, fulfilment and self-realization of man's social essence,
labour in capitalist society, leads to a reduction of the worker's value and to
his stultification. Fourier's solution was the 'h ar mony ' system - a reform of
the world built around the reorganization of labour in order to make work
bot h sociable, pleasurable a nd liberating. 3
The tr eat ment of these subjects by Marx and Engels in T h e G e r m a n I d e o -
l o g y
definitely shows a familiarity with Fourier: Reme mber that Fourier
wished to see the present
t r a v a i l r ~ p u g n a n t
replaced by
t r a v a i l a t t r a y a n t . 31
Marx's vision of the future abolit ion of 'alienated labour' seems to echo
that of his predecessor in cert ain respects:
All collisions in history have their origin, according to our view, in the contradiction be-
tween the productive forces and the form of intercourse . . . . The transformation, through
the division of labour, of personal powers (relationships) into material powers, cannot be
dispelled by dismissing the general idea of it from one's mind, but can only be abolished
by the individuals again subjecting these material powers to themselves and abolishing
the division of labour . . . In the real community the individuals obtain their freedom in
and through their association . . . The proletarians, if they are to assert themselves as
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
8/11
2 2 4 A V R A H A M Y A S S O U R
ind iv idua ls , wi l l have to abo l i sh the ve ry cond i t ion o f the i r ex is tence h i the r to (wh ich has ,
m oreove r , been tha t o f a l l soc ie ty up to the p resen t ) , nam ely , labour . 32
E c h o e s o f F o u r i e r a r e e v e n s t r o n g e r f u r t h e r o n , w h e n M a r x c o n t r a s ts t h e
a c t u a l a n d t h e d e s i r a b l e s t a t u s o f t h e w o r k e r a n d d e s c r i b e s h i s s e l f - a l i e n a t i o n :
As long as a c leavage ex is t s be tween the pa r t icu la r and the common in te res t , a s long ,
t h e r e f o r e , a s a c t i v i t y i s n o t v o lu n t a r i l y b u t n a tu r a l l y d iv id e d , m a n ' s o w n d e e d b e c o m e s
a n a l i e n p o w e r o p p o s e d t o h im , w h ic h e n s l av e s h im in s te a d o f b e in g c o n t r o l l e d b y h im .
F o r a s s o o n a s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f l a b o u r c o m e s i n to b e in g , e ac h m a n h a s a p a rt i c u la r , e x -
c lu siv e s p h e r e o f a c t i v i t y w h ic h i s f o r c e d u p o n h im a n d f r o m w h ic h h e c a n n o t e s c a p e . . .
T h i s f i x a t i o n o f s o c i a l a c ti v i t y , th i s c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f w h a t w e o u r s elv e s p r o d u c e i n to a n
o b j e c t i v e p o w e r a b o v e u s , g r o w in g o u t o f o u r c o n t r o l , t h w a r t i n g o u r e x p e c t a t io n s , b rin g-
in g t o n a u g h t o u r c a l c u l a t io n s , i s o n e o f t h e c h i e f f a c to r s i n h i st o r i c a l d e v e lo p m e n t u p
t i l l n o w 3 3
E v e n m o r e s i g n if i ca n t i s t h e f a m o u s p a ss a ge f r o m
The German Ideology
w h e r e M a r x a n d E n g e l s ' C o m m u n i s t u t o p i a a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n d i r e c t l y
i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e d a i l y w o r k - s c h e d u l e p l a n n e d b y F o u r i e r f o r h is m o d e l
p h a l a n s t e r i e s .
F o r a s s o o n a s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f l a b o u r c o m e s i n to b e in g , e a c h m a n h a s a p a r t i c u la r
e x c lu siv e s p h e re o f a c t i v i t y w h ic h i s f o r c e d u p o n h im a n d f r o m w h ic h h e c a n n o t e s ca pe .
He i s a hun te r , a f i she rman , a shep herd o r a c r it i ca l c r i t ic , and m us t rem ain so i f he does
n o t w a n t t o l o s e h i s m e a n s o f li v e l i h o o d ; w h i l e i n Co m m u n i s t s o c i e ty , w h e r e n o b o d y h a s
o n e e x c lu s iv e s p h e r e o f a c t i v i t y , b u t e a c h c a n b e c o m e a c c o m p l i s h e d i n a n y b r a n c h h e
wishes , soc ie ty regu la tes the gen era l p ro duc t ion and th us makes i t poss ib le fo r me to do
o n e t h in g t o d a y a n d a n o th e r t o m o r r o w , t o h u n t i n t h e m o r n in g , f i s h i n t h e a f t e r n o o n ,
rea r ca t t le in the even ing , c r i ti c i se a f te r d inner , ju s t a s I have a mind , w i tho u t ever be -
c o m in g h u n t e r , f i sh e r m a n , s h e p h e r d o r c r i ti c
[ A l t h o u g h t h e s e l i n es m a y h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n b y E n g e l s ( i n w h o s e w r i t in g s
s i m i l a r i d e a s a r e e x p r e s s e d ) ,
The German Ideology
w a s w i t h o u t d o u b t a j o i n t
e f f o r t . ]
W h a t i s u n d e n i a b l e i s t h e g r e a t s i m i l a r i t y t o F o u r i e r ' s b a s ic i d e a s : a c h a n g e
o f w o r k e v e r y h o u r o r t w o ( t h e ' s 6 a n c e s ') a n d t h e c h o i c e o f l a b o u r a c c o r d i n g
t o i n c l i n a t i o n a n d p a s s i o n m a d e p o s s ib l e b y a h a r m o n i o u s s o c i e t y ; t h e sh a rp
c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n t h e v i s i o n o f th e f u t u r e a s o p p o s e d t o t h e a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n
i n a ' c i v i l i z e d ' r e g i m e . 34 T h e l i b e r a t i o n o f l a b o u r a n d n o n - a l i e n a t e d l i f e -s t y l e s
w i l l c o m e a b o u t i n a c o l l e c t i v e in w h i c h i n d i v i d u a l a n d g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t s
m e r g e . S o c i a l w o r k c o n c e i v e d a s f re e a n d p l e a s u ra b l e a c t i v i t y w i l l b e d o n e
w i t h e n t h u s i a s m , a n d w i l l b e c o m e v a s t l y p r o d u c t i v e . F o u r i e r a ls o d e al s w i t h
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
9/11
C O M M U N I S M A N D U T O P I A 2 25
c l o s in g t h e g a p b e t w e e n c i t y a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , w i t h v o c a t i o n a l t r a in i n g f o r
y o u t h i n t h e p h a l a n t e r i es , w i t h w o m a n ' s l i b e r a t i o n a n d w i t h s i m i la r p r o b l e m s
t h a t a re e c h o e d i n t h e w o r k s o f M a r x a n d E n g e l s . T h e y r e p e a t e d l y s t r es s ed
t h a t F o u r i e r ' s i m p o r t a n c e l a y in t h e f a c t t h a t h e w a s n o t c o n t e n t w i t h d e -
m a n d i n g a c h a n g e i n c o n s u m p t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n h a b i t s , b u t c o n n e c t e d
t h is w i t h a d e m a n d f o r a s t r u c t u r a l c h a n g e i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n
a n d t h e a b o l i t i o n o f h i r e d l a b o u r . I n t e r e s t i n g l y e n o u g h , t h e m a t u r e M a r x i n
h i s v i s io n o f t h e f u t u r e , p r o c l a i m e d i n V o l . 3 ofD as Kapital a p p e a r s t o h a v e
b e c o m e d i s t i n c t l y ' F o u r i e r i s t ' i n h i s v i e w o f th e r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n l a b o u r a n d
t h e ' r e a lm o f f r e e d o m ' .
T h e a c tu a l w e a l t h o f s o c i e ty , a n d t h e p o s s ib i l i t y o f c o n s t a n t l y e x p a n d in g i t s r e p r o d u c -
t i o n p r o ce s s, t h e r e f o re , d o n o t d e p e n d u p o n t h e d u r a t i o n o f s u rp lu s l a b o u r, b u t u p o n i ts
p r o d u c t i v i t y a n d t h e m o r e o r le ss c o p io u s c o n d i t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n u n d e r w h ic h i t i s
p e r f o r m e d . I n f a c t , t h e r e a lm o f f r e e d o m a c tu a l l y b eg in s o n ly w h e r e l a b o u r w h ic h is
d e t e r m in e d b y n e c e ss i ty an d m u n d a n e c o n s id e r a t i o n s c e a s e s ; . . . W i th h is d e v e lo p m e n t
th is rea lm of phys ica l necess i ty expands as a resu l t o f h i s wan ts ; bu t a t the same t ime ,
the fo rces o f p rod uc t io n w hich sa t i s fy these wan ts a l so inc reases . F re edo m in th i s f ie ld
can on ly cons is t in soc ia l ized man , the assoc ia ted p roducers ra t iona l ly regu la t ing the i r
i n t e r c h a n g e w i th n a tu r e , b r in g in g it u n d e r t h e i r c o m m o n c o n t r o l i n s t e a d o f b e in g r u l e d
b y i t a s b y t h e b l i n d f o r c e s o f n a tu r e ; a n d a c h i e v in g w i th t h e l e a st e x p e n d i tu r e o f e n e r g y
a n d u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s m o s t f a v o u r a b l e t o , a n d w o r th y o f , t h e ir h u m a n n a tu r e . Bu t i t
n o n e th e l e s s s t i l l r e m a in s a r e a lm o f n e c e s s i t y . Be y o n d i t b e g in s t h a t d e v e lo p m e n t o f
h u m a n e n e r g y w h ic h i s a n e n d i n i t se l f, t h e t r u e re a lm o f f r e e d o m , w h ic h , h o w e v e r , c a n
b lossom fo r th on ly wi th th i s rea lm of necess i ty as i t s basi s. The shor ten ing o f the work-
ing day is i ts basic prereq uisi te . 35
T h e s e p a r a g r a p h s h a v e b e e n t h e s u b je c t o f i n n u m e r a b l e c o m m e n t a r i e s . I t
s e e m s t o m e t h a t a n i l l u m i n a t i n g e l a b o r a t i o n a p p e a r s i n t h e M a r x m a n u s c r i p t s
o f 1 8 5 7 - 8 w h i c h l a te r p r o v i d e d t h e s ou r c e m a t e r i a l fo r Das Kap ital. T h e r e , i n
c o n s i d e r i n g t h e i d e as o f A d a m S m i t h o n w o r k a s a s a c ri f ic e a n d t h e r e n u n c i a -
t i o n o f re s t, f r e e d o m a n d h a p p i n e s s , M a r x s ay s :
T h o u s h a lt l a b o u r b y t h e s w e a t o f t h y b ro w w a s J e h o v a h ' s c u r se t h a t h e b e s to w e d u p o n
Ad am . A. Sm i th conce ives o f labour as such a cu rse. 'R es t ' appears to h im to be a f i t t ing
s t a t e o f t h in g s , a n d i d e n t i c a l w i th ' l i b e r t y ' a n d ' h a p p in e s s ' . . . . I t is t r u e t h a t t h e q u an t i -
t y o f la b o u r t o b e p r o v id e d s e em s t o b e c o n d i t i o n e d b y e x t e r n a l c i r cu m s ta n c e s, b y t h e
p u r p o s e t o b e a c h i e v e d , a n d t h e o b s t a cl e s t o i t s a c h i e v e m e n t th a t h a v e t o b e o v e r c o m e
b y l a b o u r . Bu t n e i t h e r d o e s i t o c c u r t o A . S m i th t h a t t h e o v e r c o m in g o f su c h o b s t a c le s
m a y i t s e l f c o n s t i t u t e a n e x e r c i s e i n l i b e r t y , a n d t h a t t h e s e e x t e r n a l p u r p o s e s l o s e t h e i r
charac te r o f mere na tu ra l necess i t ie s and a re es tab l i shed as purposes which the ind iv idua l
h im se l f f ixes . The resu l t i s the se l f - rea l iza t ion and o b jec t i f ic a t ion o f the sub jec t , the re -
fo re rea l f reed om wh ose a c t iv i ty i s p rec ise ly labour : 36
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
10/11
2 2 6 A V R A H A M Y A S S O U R
B u t h e r e M a rx ' a t t it u d e t o h u m a n w o r k i n th e f u tu r e s o c i e t y h a s m a t u r e d
a n d b e c o m e m o r e c o m p l e x ; h e e xp l ai n s:
T h i s
d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t la b o u r c an
b e m a d e m e r e l y a j o k e o r a m u s e m e n t , a s F o u r i e r n a i v e l y e x p r e s s e d it in s h o p -
g irl t erm s .
M a r x ' c o n c l u s i o n r e f l e c te d t h e e s s en t ia l d i ff e r e n c e b e t w e e n h i s o w n r a ti o n -
a l 'u t o p i a ' a n d t h a t o f h i s v i s i o n a r y p r e d e c e s s o r - t h e a b i li t y t o s y n t h e s i s e
m o r a l i m p e r a t iv e s w i t h a s c i e n t if ic u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e c o n o m i c n e c e ss i ti e s .
W o r k c a n n o t b e c o m e a g a m e , a s F o u r i e r w o u l d l i k e i t t o b e
( ' a m u s e m e n t ' ,
' t r a v a i l a t t r a c t r f ' ) ;
h i s g r e at m e r i t w a s t h a t h e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e u l t i m a t e
o b j e c t m u s t b e t o r ais e t o a h i gh e r le v e l n o t d i s tr i b u t io n b u t t h e m o d e o f
p r o d u c t i o n .
V a r i o u s r a d i c a l s d e c l a r e t h e m s e l v e s t o b e p o s t - F o u r i e r i s t s , o v e r s i m p l i f y i n g
h i s s y s t e m ; o u r e x p e r i e n c e - h e r e i n K i b b u t z - l i f e in I s ra e l - t o r e a l iz e s o m e
o f F o u r i e r 's p r i n c ip l e s, p r o v e t h a t h i s s o c i a l p h i l o s o p h y i s u t o p i a n . N e v e r t h e -
l e ss w e d o n o t f o r g e t t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f a ll o u r p r e d e c e ss o r s .
N O T E S
t A n d r 6 B r e t o n , O d e ~ C h a r l e s F o u r i e r Par i s , 1967 .
2 Marx -Enge l s~Werke ( M E W ), V o l. 1 , p p . 1 0 5 - 1 0 8 .
3 D.
M c L e l l a n , T h e
Y o u n g H e g e li a n s a n d K . M a r x L o n d o n , 1 9 6 9 , p p . 1 4 3 - 1 4 7 .
4 M E W , V o l . 1 , p . 1 0 8 ;
for the Engl ish trans la t ion:
L . D . E a s t o n a n d K . H . G u d d a t ,
Wri t i ngs o f h e Y o u n g M a r x o n P h i l o s o p h y a n d S o c i e t y N.Y. , 1967 .
s M c L e l l a n , op . c i t . p p . 3 5 - 6 ; A . C o r n u , K . M a r x e t F . E n g e l s t ome I , Pa r i s , 1955 , p .
2 3 f f ; E. S i l b e r n e r ,
M o s e s H e s s
L e i d e n , 1 9 6 6 .
6 L o r e n z y o n S t e i n , S o z i a li s m u s u n d K om m un i smu s des heu t i gen F r a n k r e i c h s 1 8 4 2 . O n
M a r x s a t t i t u d e t o y o n S t e i n : S h . A v i n e r i, Th e Soci a l and Po l i ti c a l T h ough t o f K a r l M a r x
C a m b r i d g e , 1 9 6 8 .
7 A . L . y o n
R o c h a u ,
K r i t i s c he D a r s t e l l u n g d e r S o z i a l t h e o r i e F o u r i e r s
B r a u n s c h w e i g ,
1 8 4 0 .
8 T h e N e w M o r a l W o r ld N o . 2 1 ( 1 8 . 1 1 . 1 8 4 3 ) ; M E W , V o l . I , p . 4 9 4 .
9 M E W , V o l . 1 , S . 4 8 1 - 8 .
l o I b i d . S . 5 0 3 , 5 1 6 .
1 1 M E G A I . 1 (2) , S .315 .
1~ D eu t sch -F r an zf s i sche Jah r b i ~cher h r s g . A . R u g e u n d K . M a r x , D a r m s t a d t , 1 9 6 7 , p p .
3 7 - 3 9 .
C o m m u n i s m h e r e m e a n t t h e a c t u a ll y e x i st i n g
one, e.g. ,
t h e d o g m a t i c t h e o r i e s
o f C a b e t , D e z a m y , W e i t li n g .
1 3 M E W E r g i i n z u n g s b a n d I . p p . 4 6 5 - 5 8 8 ; o n t h e s e m a n u s c r i p t s : Sh. Avi ne r i , op . c i t . ;
L . A l t h u s s e r , P o u r M a r x P a r is , 1 9 6 5 a n d T . I . O j z e r m a n , Fo rm i r ovan i e F i l o so f i i M a r k -
s i z m a M o s c o w , 1 9 6 2 .
14 K ar l M arx , E a r l y W r i t i n g s I n t r o d u c e d
b y L u c i o
C o l l e t t i , L o n d o n 1 9 7 5 , p . 3 4 5 .
i s I b i d . p . 3 4 6 .
7/24/2019 fourier marx engels
11/11
C O M M U N I S M A N D U T O P I A
7
16
Ib id . ,
p . 324 .
17 M EW , Vo l . 2 , p . 37 ; See a lso The H o l y F a m i l y , M o s c o w , 1 9 5 6 , p . 5 1 . D u r i n g t h e
s a m e p e r io d , M . B a k u n i n , t h e f a t h e r o f m o d e r n a n a r c h is m , p r o n o u n c e d h i s d i c t u m o n
t h e d e s t r u c t iv e - a c t i o n o f t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i v e - a s p e c t o f t h e d e s t r u c ti v e -
ac t
18 M E W , V o l . 2, p p . 1 3 8 - 1 3 9 ; T h e H o l y F a m i l y , p p . 1 7 5 - 6 .
1 9 M E W , V o l . 2 , 4 9 8 - 5 0 7 .
2 0 T h e s e w o r k s o f F o u r i e r a r e :
La Fausse industr ie ,
1 8 3 6 ;
Th~orie des quatre mouve-
me nts , e t des de st inies g~n~rales ,
1841 ;
Traitk de l association do m est iqu e agricole,
1 8 2 2 .
21 M EW , Vo l . 3 , p . 401 .
2 2 M E W , V o l . 2 7 , p . 4 6 1 - 2 .
2 3 p . V . A n n e n k o v , ' Z a m e c h a t e l n o e d e s j at i le t i e' , V e s t n i k E v r o p y , N o . 4 , 1 8 8 0 .
24 Russk ie so vremen nlk i o K . M ark i F . Enge l se ,
M o s c o w , 1 9 6 9 , p . 4 3 n o t e : M a r x ' s
l e t te r t o A n n e n k o v w a s w r i t t e n i n F r e n c h , c o n s e q u e n t l y a l so t h e m a r g i n al ia o f h i s o w n
c o p y : " C ' e s t F o u r i e r q u i , le p r e m i e r , a p e rs i f l6 l' i d 6 a l i s a t i o n d e l a p e t i t e b o u r g e o i s i e " .
2 s M E W , V o l . 2 7 , p p . 4 6 2 - 3 .
2 6 T h e C o m m u n i s t M a n i f e s t o ,
C h . I I I ; i n R . T u c k e r , T h e
M a r x - E n g e l s R e a d e r ,
N.Y. ,
1 9 7 2, pp . 3 5 9 - 3 6 1 .
2 7 S e e M . R u b e l ( e d . ) , Pour une ~thique social is te;Pages de K. Marx, P a r i s , 1 9 7 0 , t o m e
I I , p . 6 , 1 4 4 ; a n d S h . A v i n e ri , 'M a r x a n d U t o p i a n i s m ' , i n
M o l a d
( H e b r e w ) , A p r i l , 1 9 7 3 ,
p p. 3 7 8 - 3 8 6 .
28 T he Co mm unis t Man i fes to ,
i n R . T u c k e r ,
ib id . ,
p . 3 5 3 . F u r t h e r i l l u m i n a t i n g c o n s id -
e r a ti o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e f u t u r e C o m m u n i s t s o c i et y a r e c o n t a i n e d in M a r x ' m a r g i n al n o t es
t o t h e G o t h a P ro g i a m o f 1 8 7 5 (T u c k e r , p p . 3 8 2 - 3 9 8 ) .
29 K. M a rx ,
Early Writings,
e d b y T . B . B o t t o m o r e , N . Y . , 1 9 6 4 , p p . 1 8 7 a n d 1 2 2 .
3 0 C h . F o u r i e r ,
Thdorie des quatre m ouv em ents : Trait~ de l associat ion agricole , T extes
choisis, e d . b y F . A r m a n d , P ar is , 1 9 5 3 , I I I, 2 ; a n d Textes: l a t tract ion passionn~e, e d . b y
R . S h e r e r , P a ri s , 1 9 6 7 , I l l - I V . S e e a l s o : I . Z i l b e r f a r b ,
Soci]a l na]a Filosofi]a ~Sarl]a F ur ie,
M o s c o w , 1 9 6 4 , C h s . 3 a n d 4 .
3 1 M E W , V o l . 3, p . 4 7 0 ; E n g l is h t r a n s l a t i o n - p . 5 3 1 ; th e c o n d i t i o n s f o r m a k i n g w o r k
a t t r a c t iv e w e r e c l ea r ly f o r m u l a t e d b y F o u r i e r i n t h e i n t r o d u c t o r y c h a p t e r t o h i s
Thkorie
de l Unitd Universelle.
3 2 K . M a r x , T h e German Ideo logy , M o c o w , 1 9 6 4 , p p . 9 0 - 9 2 , 9 5 . W a s M a r x r e f er r i n g t o
t h e a b o l i t i o n o f a l l l a b o r a c t iv i t y ? D e b a t e s o n t h i s g o o n : S e e I. M a i le r , T e l A v i v , 1 9 7 4 .
a a T h e
German Ideology, op. c i t . ,
p p . 4 4 - 4 5 .
3 4 C h . F o u r i e r , L e N o u v e a u x M o n d e l n d u s t r i e l , C h . 2 , p p . 3 3 - 3 4 ; Thborie de l Un i t~
Universelle,
I I , 15, e tc .
a s M E W , V o l . 2 5 , p . 8 2 8 . E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n : D . M c L e l l a n ( e d . ) , Karl Marx: Se lec ted
Writings,
O x f o r d , 1 9 7 2 , p p . 4 9 6 - 7 . I t is i n t er e s ti n g t o m e n t i o n h e r e t h a t th e F r e n c h
t r a n s l a t i o n o f
Das Kapi ta l ,
b y M . J. R o y ( 1 8 7 5 ) u n d e r M a r x ' s u p e r v i s io n ( a n d h e e v e n
n o t e d t h e i n d e p e n d e n t s c ie n t i fi c v a l u e o f t h i s e d it i o n ) , s e e m s m o r e ' F o u r i e r i s t i c ' i n i ts
t e r m i n o l o g y ( e.g . ' l ' h o m m e in t 6 g r a l e ' , ' l i b r e e s s o r ' , e t c .) . M a r x ' s ' g e m i l d e r t e B a g n o s '
m a k e s a l l u s io n t o F o u r i e r ' s ' b a g n e s m i t ig 6 s ' (M E W , V o l . 2 3 , 4 5 0 ) .
36 K. M arx , Grundr i sse der Kr i t i k der po l i t i schen Okonomie , Rohen twur f , 1 8 5 7 - 8 ,
B e rl in , 1 9 5 3 , p p . 5 0 5 - 6 .
H a i f a U n i v e r s i t y , I s r a e l