The proffered pen: Saint-Simonianism and the public sphere in 19th century France
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Date
2011-03
Authors
Brick, Michael, 1984-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The French "utopian socialist" movement known as Saint-Simonianism has long been recognized for its influence among 19th century engineers. An examination of the early Saint-Simonian journal, Le Producteur , however, reveals the articulation of an appeal to contemporary men of letters. A survey of the life and career of Hippolyte Carnot, a prominent Saint-Simonian man of letters, confirms and illustrates the nature of this appeal as it developed alongside Saint-Simonian ideology. Central to this appeal was the Saint-Simonians' attributing to the "artist" the role of moral educator. In their conceptualization of this function, the Saint-Simonians essentially presented a model of what Jürgen Habermas has termed the "public sphere" in strong contrast to that of classical liberalism. In the final analysis, however, the Saint-Simonians can be read as arguing not for the totalitarian domination of public life (as some have suggested) but rather the necessity of what Antonio Gramsci described as "hegemony."
Description
viii, 157 p.
Keywords
Gramsci, Antonio, 1891-1937, Habermas, Jürgen, Hegemony, Saint-Simonianism, Socialism, Utopian, European history, France -- History -- 19th century