Utopian Socialists and the Fundamental Role of Education: Henri Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier as Builders of a Brighter Future

Authors

• Lauri Keskinen Turun yliopisto

Abstract

Utopian literature, beginning from the likes of Plato’s Republic and Thomas More’s Utopia, has always reserved an integral role to education in the building of Utopian societies. Generally utopians have viewed education as a method of both socializing individuals into a society as well as maintaining the morals fundamental to that society. However, it is in the tradition of Utopian literature to criticize contemporary society, and this, in turn, can be used to analyze the way in which education, its uses and methods were seen by the utopians. This article focuses on the educational philosophies of three 18th century Utopian socialists: Henri Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier. This study reveals that, even though their views on education differed substantially from each other, they could agree on providing education to all, since Utopian societies were by nature intolerant towards dissidents or forces questioning the social order.