Charles Fourier, also known as François-Marie-Charles Fourier, was born on April 7, 1772, in Besançon, France.

Birth of Charles Fourier

In 1781, Charles Fourier inherited two-fifths of his father's estate, which was valued at more than 200,000 francs. This inheritance allowed him to travel extensively throughout Europe.

Inheritance from Father's Estate

In 1791, Charles Fourier moved from Besançon to Lyon and started working for the merchant M. Bousquet. This marked the beginning of his professional career in Lyon.

Employment in Lyon

In 1791, Charles Fourier moved from Besançon to Lyon, where he started working for the merchant M. Bousqnet. This move marked a significant shift in his career and life, allowing him to explore new opportunities and ideas.

Move to Lyon and Employment by M. Bousqnet

By 1799, Charles Fourier had developed the fundamental insight that formed the basis for all his later work, known as 'the calculus of the mechanism of the passions.' This insight laid the groundwork for his utopian association concept.

Development of Fourier's Fundamental Insight

Charles Fourier aimed to liberate every human individual through education and the liberation of human passion. He emphasized the importance of recognizing children's industriousness from a young age and listed dominant tastes in children to include rummaging, industrial commotion, aping, industrial miniature, and progressive attraction of the weak toward the strong.

Belief in Liberating Human Individuals

In 1803, Fourier first set forth his ideas in an article entitled 'Universal Harmony,' which was published in the Bulletin de Lyon. This marked the beginning of his efforts to promote his ideas through various writings.

Publication of 'Universal Harmony'

In 1808, Charles Fourier, a salesman from Lyons, introduced the concept of a 'phalanx,' a unique social organization combining elements of a garden city and an agricultural commune. He advocated for job rotation and decentralized communities to replace the state, while also emphasizing the importance of equal rights for women.

Charles Fourier's Concept of Phalanx

In 1808, Charles Fourier published Théorie des quatre mouvements et des destinees generales (Theory of the four movements and the general destinies), marking a significant milestone in his philosophical work.

Théorie des quatre mouvements et des destinees generales publication

As early as 1808, Fourier expressed that the progress of society depended on the equitable treatment and liberation of women, criticizing the societal oppression of women and proposing a new family model.

Stated the importance of women's liberation

In 1808, Charles Fourier published his first major work, Théorie des quatre mouvements et des destinées générales (The Social Destiny of Man; or, Theory of the Four Movements). This work proposed a natural social order based on the evolution of society in eight ascending periods.

Publication of Théorie des quatre mouvements et des destinées générales

In 1808, Charles Fourier published 'Theory of the Four Movements and the General Destinies,' outlining his vision of universal history, the cosmos, and the potential for a new societal order based on a complete understanding of the General System of Nature.

Publication of Fourier's Theory of the Four Movements and the General Destinies

In 1808, Charles Fourier published his first book, which unfortunately did not achieve significant sales. This marked the beginning of his career as a writer and thinker.

Publication of First Book

Fourier developed the idea that natural passions of man could lead to social harmony through proper channeling, comparing it to gravitational attraction in the physical world.

Théorie des quatre mouvements

In 1808, Charles Fourier anonymously published 'Theory of the four movements and the general destinies' in Lyon, which laid the foundation for his unique social theories.

Publication of Fourier's 'Theory of the four movements and the general destinies'

In 1820, Charles Fourier published his Theory of Social Organization, where he proposed ideas on utopian socialism. He was recognized as one of the pioneers in understanding the impact of industrialization on society.

Publication of Charles Fourier's Theory of Social Organization

After inheriting his mother’s estate in 1812, Fourier was able to devote himself exclusively to writing and refined his theories in Traité de l’association agricole domestique (1822; “Treatise on Domestic Agricultural Association”).

Traité de l’association agricole domestique

In 1822, Charles Fourier attempted to sell his books again, but he was not successful in finding buyers. This event marked a setback in his literary endeavors.

Unsuccessful Book Sales

In 1830, Fourier published The New Industrial and Social World, advocating the establishment of new communities based on the principle of a phalanx, with communal living and equal rights for women.

Publication of The New Industrial and Social World

Fourier believed in the concept of 12 common passions leading to 810 types of character, resulting in an ideal phalanx of 1,620 people. He envisioned a society ruled by an 'omniarch' or a World Congress of Phalanxes, with concerns for the sexually rejected and advocating for diverse sexual preferences.

Fourier's Theory of Harmony

Fourier proposed the concept of 'phalanxes' as communities based on cooperation and concern for social success. These communities were structured around 'Phalanstères' or 'grand hotels' where wealth and jobs were determined by contribution and interest.

Formation of Phalanxes by Fourier

In April 1834, Charles Fourier moved into a Paris apartment where he resided until his death in October 1837.

Charles Fourier moves into Paris apartment

In 1835, Jean Gigoux created a portrait of Charles Fourier. Fourier's political philosophy emphasized the expression of passions shaping the rationality and geometry of a socialist state.

Portrait of Charles Fourier by Jean Gigoux

In 1835, Charles Fourier published 'False Industry, Fragmented, Repugnant, Lying and the Antidote, Natural Industry, Combined, Attractive, True, giving four times the product', criticizing the existing industrial practices and proposing a more attractive and productive alternative.

Publication of Fourier's 'False Industry, Fragmented, Repugnant, Lying and the Antidote, Natural Industry, Combined, Attractive, True, giving four times the product'

Charles Fourier passed away on October 10, 1837, in Paris at the age of 65.

Death of Charles Fourier

Charles Fourier passed away on October 10, 1837, in Paris. He was a French social theorist who developed the concept of Fourierism, which aimed to create a harmonious society through the division of society into phalanges.

Charles Fourier, the French utopian socialist and philosopher, passed away on October 10, 1837. He believed in the laws of social interaction and envisioned a society organized in units called 'phalanxes' for peace and harmony.

Charles Fourier passed away in Paris on October 10, 1837, after spending the last years of his life promoting his utopian socialist ideas. His death marked the end of his active involvement in the Fourierist movement.

Charles Fourier passed away at the age of 65 in Paris, France. He is known as an early socialist and a Utopian Socialist, credited with introducing socialist ideas in Europe during the Industrial Revolution.

Charles Fourier, the French utopian socialist and philosopher, passed away on October 10, 1837. He inspired the founding of various communist communities in the United States, such as La Reunion in Texas and the North American Phalanx in New Jersey.

On October 11, 1837, the funeral procession of Charles Fourier began from his home to the church of the Petits-Peres, attended by over four hundred people from various backgrounds.

Funeral procession of Charles Fourier

Followers of Fourier established the community of Utopia, Ohio in 1844 with the goal of creating the 'perfect community' based on cooperation. The community charged $25 per year for a house on a small parcel of land, but remained collectively owned by all members.

Establishment of Utopia, Ohio

The biography of Charles Fourier, written by C. Pellarin, was published in New York in 1846.

The Life of Charles Fourier published

Utopia, Ohio, a cooperative-based community established by followers of Fourier, lasted only 3 years before being devastated by a flood in 1847. Despite its short existence, it was a significant example of Fourier's influence on cooperative communities.

Destruction of Utopia, Ohio

Fourier's ideas influenced French politics during the 1848 Revolution and the Paris Commune through followers like Victor Prosper Considérant, leading to the establishment of colonies in the United States and the development of Fourierist communities.

Influence on French politics during the 1848 Revolution

In 1876, Charles Fourier proposed the formation of the Juvenile Legion as part of his Theory of Social Organization. The Juvenile Legion was responsible for tasks such as highway repair, cleaning stables, and maintaining buildings.

Formation of Juvenile Legion

In 1947, André Breton wrote Ode à Charles Fourier after the Surrealists had broken with the French Communist Party, showing a resurgence of Fourier's influence among writers exploring socialist ideas outside of Marxism.

Ode à Charles Fourier

In 1947, Andr Breton, after the Surrealists had broken with the French Communist Party, wrote an Ode to Charles Fourier, as Fourier's influence began to rise again among writers reappraising socialist ideas outside the Marxist mainstream.

Ode to Charles Fourier by Andr Breton

An article by P. Serenyi titled 'Le Corbusier, Fourier, and the Monastery of Ema' was published in The Art Bulletin in 1967.

Le Corbusier, Fourier, and the Monastery of Ema article published

In 1969, the Situationists quoted and adapted Fourier's Avis aux civilisés relativement à la prochaine métamorphose sociale in their text Avis aux civilisés relativement à l'autogestion généralisée, showcasing Fourier's continued impact on social and political thought.

Situationists' adaptation of Fourier's work

In 1969, the Situationists quoted and adapted Charles Fourier's Avis aux civiliss relativement la prochaine mtamorphose sociale in their text Avis aux civiliss relativement l'autogestion gnralise, showcasing Fourier's continued influence in the social discourse.

Situationists' adaptation of Fourier's Avis aux civiliss

In 1971, Jonathan Beecher and Richard Bienvenu edited 'The Utopian Vision of Charles Fourier: Selected Texts on Work, Love, and Passionate Attraction' which was published in Boston by Beacon Press.

Publication of 'The Utopian Vision of Charles Fourier: Selected Texts on Work, Love, and Passionate Attraction'

Roland Barthes published a book titled 'Sade Fourier Loyola' in 1971, which discussed the ideas and influence of Fourierism, a social movement inspired by the works of Charles Fourier.

Barthes' Book on Fourierism

In 1971, Charles Fourier's selected writings were published under the title Design for Utopia, contributing to the ongoing exploration of utopian ideals and societal transformation.

Design for Utopia: Selected Writings publication

The book 'Sade Fourier Loyola' was published in Paris in 1971, exploring the ideas of Charles Fourier and his influence.

Sade Fourier Loyola

In 1971, Charles Fourier's 'Design for Utopia: Selected Writings' was published in New York by Schocken. The book is part of the Studies in the Libertarian and Utopian Tradition.

Publication of 'Design for Utopia: Selected Writings'

In 1971, 'Harmonian Man: Selected Writings of Charles Fourier' was edited by Mark Poster and published in Garden City by Doubleday.

Publication of 'Harmonian Man: Selected Writings of Charles Fourier'

Henri Desroche's book 'La Société festive' was published in Paris in 1975, discussing the transition from written Fourierism to practiced Fourierism.

La Société festive. Du fouririsme écrit au fourirismes pratiqués

Henri Desroche's book 'La Société festive' examines the transition of Fourierism from theoretical writings to practical applications, shedding light on the societal impact of Fourier's ideas.

Henri Desroche's Work on Fourierism

Jonathan Beecher's book 'Charles Fourier: the visionary and his world' was published in 1986, exploring the life and ideas of Charles Fourier.

Charles Fourier: the visionary and his world by Jonathan Beecher published

An article by L. Goldstein discussing early feminist themes in French Utopian Socialism, focusing on St.-Simonians and Fourier, was published in the Journal of the History of Ideas in 1982.

Early Feminist Themes in French Utopian Socialism article published

In 1991, Carl J. Guarneri published a book exploring Fourierism in nineteenth-century America. The book delves into the influence and impact of the utopian socialist ideas of Charles Fourier during that period.

Publication of 'The Utopian Alternative: Fourierism in Nineteenth-Century America' by Carl J. Guarneri

Hakim Bey's work 'The Lemonade Ocean & Modern Times' explores the themes of Fourierism and its relevance in modern society, shedding light on the posthumous influence of Charles Fourier.

Hakim Bey's Work on Fourierism

In 1991, Carl J. Guarneri published 'The Utopian Alternative: Fourierism in Nineteenth-Century America,' a book that explores the influence of Fourierism in the United States during the 19th century. The work delves into the ideas and impact of the utopian socialist Charles Fourier.

The Utopian Alternative: Fourierism in Nineteenth-Century America

Carl J. Guarneri's book 'The Utopian Alternative' was published in 1991, exploring Fourierism's impact in 19th century America.

In 1996, Martin Buber published 'Paths in Utopia', a book that delves into utopian ideals, including Fourierism, and their potential impact on society.

Martin Buber's 'Paths in Utopia'

William H. Brock's dissertation 'Phalanx on a Hill: Responses to Fourierism in the Transcendentalist Circle' explores the reactions and responses to Fourierism within the Transcendentalist movement.

William H. Brock's Dissertation on Fourierism

William H. Brock's dissertation 'Phalanx on a Hill' from Loyola University Chicago in 1996, examines the responses to Fourierism within the Transcendentalist Circle.

Phalanx on a Hill: Responses to Fourierism in the Transcendentalist Circle

Martin Buber's book 'Paths in Utopia' was published in 1996, discussing various utopian ideas including Fourierism.

Paths in Utopia

In 1996, Gareth Stedman Jones and Ian Patterson edited 'Fourier: The Theory of the Four Movements', a significant work that delves into Fourier's political thought and its historical significance.

Publication of 'Fourier: The Theory of the Four Movements'

Michael Burleigh's book 'Earthly Powers: the clash of religion and politics in Europe from the French Revolution to the Great War' was published in 2005.

Earthly Powers: the clash of religion and politics in Europe book published

In 2005, Fredric Jameson's work 'Fourier; or; Ontology and Utopia' was published as part of 'Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions'. The book explores the ideas of Charles Fourier in relation to utopian concepts.

Publication of 'Fourier; or; Ontology and Utopia' by Fredric Jameson

A commenter expressed surprise at the concept of 'thirty-two stages' associated with Charles Fourier. The commenter mentioned reading about Fourier's 'phalanxes'.

Lettrist commenting on Fourier's stages

Ismail clarified that Saint-Simon and Owen were not followers of Charles Fourier. Saint-Simon was apparently unaware of Fourier, while Owen knew of him but dismissed his ideas. Fourier himself criticized both Owen and the Saint-Simonians. Each of the three men developed their views independently.

Ismail correcting misconceptions about Fourier, Saint-Simon, and Owen

Charles Fourier was a French philosopher and early socialist thinker who founded utopian socialism. His radical views have influenced modern society, including coining the word feminism. Fourier's ideas inspired intentional communities worldwide and influenced revolutionary thinkers.

Charles Fourier

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