SAINT-SIMONISM

SAINT-SIMONISM
SAINT-SIMONISM, a 19th-century social reform philosophy and movement, inspired by Claude-Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon (1760–1825). It had prominent disciples of Jewish descent. Its ultimate goal was a technologically oriented industrial society, under a dictatorship of competent scientist-technicians and property-owning businessmen and bankers, inspired by the bizarre ideology of a "New Christianity" shorn of other-worldliness and asceticism. In a non-violent fashion, caste privileges would be surrendered, work provided for all, rewards allocated according to merit, inheritance abolished, and equality of both sexes established. Saint-Simonism displayed an elective affinity toward the compassionate social messianism of the Hebraic prophets. Revivalist exaltation–upon which the sect eventually foundered–included the expectation of the woman-messiah "Mother," a Jewess from the Orient, who would formulate the new morality and whom the disciples must go out and find. Saint-Simon's earliest apostle was Benjamin Olinde Rodrigues (1795–1851), who was of Jewish origin. He nominated the two "supreme fathers" of the Saint-Simonian temple, Bazard (1791–1832) and Erefantin (1796–1864), and published Saint-Simon's and the disciples' collected writings. Among those Rodrigues introduced into the fold were his brother, Eugene, and his cousins, Emile and Isaac Péreire with whom, later, he promoted French railway construction and corporate banking. Other eminent Saint-Simonians were Léon Halévy , Gustave d'Eichthal , and jules carvallo . The active presence of the Jewish element sparked the violent reaction of both the Socialist Fourier and Catholic Church spokesmen, who denounced Saint-Simonism as a Jewish plot to subvert civilization. After due consideration it was rejected by Marx and Engels, together with all other pre-Marxist doctrines. However, among the contemporaries who were impressed by the doctrine were the historians Carlyle and Michelet, the sociologist Comte, the composers Berlioz and Liszt, and the author George Sand, in addition to such German Jewish intellectuals as eduard gans , heinrich heine , rahel varnhagen , and Moritz veit . -BIBLIOGRAPHY: C.H. de R. Saint-Simon, Oeuvres de Saint-Simon et d'Enfantin, 47 vols. (1865–78; repr. 1963– ); G. Weill, in: REJ, 31 (1895), 261–73; Z. Szajkowski, in: JSOS, 9 (1947), 33–60; F.M.H. Markham (ed.), Selected Writings of Saint-Simon (1952); J. Talmon, in: Commentary, 26 (1958), 158–72. (Hanns G. Reissner)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • Saint- Simonism — Saint Simonianism Saint Si*mo ni*an*ism, n. The principles, doctrines, or practice of the Saint Simonians; called also {Saint Simonism}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint-Simonism — Saint Si mon*ism, n. A system of socialism in which the state owns all the property and the laborer is entitled to share according to the quality and amount of his work, founded by Saint Simon (1760 1825); called also {Saint Simonianism}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • saint-simonism — (|)sāntˈsīməˌnizəm noun ( s) Usage: usually capitalized both Ss Etymology: Count St. Simon + English ism : saint simonianism * * * Saint Simonism /sənt or sint sīˈmə ni zm/ noun The socialist system of the French philosopher Comte de Saint Simon …   Useful english dictionary

  • Saint-Simon and Saint-Simonism — • Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint Simon, was born in Paris, 17 Oct., 1760; died there, 19 May, 1825. He belonged to the family of the author of the Memoirs Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Saint Simon and Saint Simonism      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • saint-simonism — saint si·mon·ism …   English syllables

  • Saint- Simonianism — Saint Simonism Saint Si mon*ism, n. A system of socialism in which the state owns all the property and the laborer is entitled to share according to the quality and amount of his work, founded by Saint Simon (1760 1825); called also {Saint… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint-Simonianism — Saint Si*mo ni*an*ism, n. The principles, doctrines, or practice of the Saint Simonians; called also {Saint Simonism}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Saint-Simonist — Saint Siˈmonist noun • • • Main Entry: ↑Saint Simonism …   Useful english dictionary

  • saint-simonianism — ēəˌnizəm noun ( s) Usage: usually capitalized both Ss : a socialistic system in which the state owns all property and the laborer is entitled to share according to the quality and amount of his work * * * Saint Simōˈnianism noun • • • Main Entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon — Saint Simon, 1848 Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint Simon, often referred to as Henri de Saint Simon (17 October 1760 – 19 May 1825) was a French early socialist theorist whose thought influenced the foundations of various 19th century… …   Wikipedia

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