May 11, 2014 reflections on violence 1908 georges sorel a philosophical work published in 1908 by the french revolutionary syndicalist georges sorel. Pdf reflections on violence download full pdf book. Here sorel developed his notions of myth modeled on the syndicalist vision of the general strike and of violence. He theorized the idea that the workers struggle could be fuelled by the use of images, or a myth, and that. Wyndham lewis believed himself to be justified in saying. Sorel believed in the overthrow of bourgeois society through class struggle, but came to the conclusion that orthodox marxist accounts of the process were. It is, together with his defense of violence, the contribution for which he is most often remembered. Apr, 2012 georges sorel, letter to daniel halevy 1907 georges sorel 18471922 stated his theory of social myths most clearly in a letter to daniel halevy in 1907, from which these selections are taken. Priestley argued that if one could grasp why a retired civil servant had written such a book then the modern age could be understood. Publication date 1915 topics strikes and lockouts, syndicalism, social conflict. His bestknown work is reflections on violence 1908. Any one familiar with the history of syndicalism and the ideas of sorel would, of course, know the syndicalist movement had been in existence for a number of years before sorel wrote refections on violence.
Ideas of violence, myth and the general strike, sorel celebrates the. His notion of the power of myth in peoples lives inspired anarchists, marxists, and fascists. It is both dangerous and fascinating, of enduring importance and interest to all those concerned about. The first fascist movements emerged in italy during world war i, before spreading to other european countries. It unashamedly advocates the use of violence as a means of putting an end to the corrupt politics of bourgeois democracy and of bringing down capitalism. Reflections on viol ence by sorel, georges, georges sorel. All translations, unless otherwise marked, are my own. Georges sorel s reflections on violence 1908 remains a controversial text to this day. For the first explicit formulations of this, see the conclusion to georges sorel, introduction a leconomie moderne paris.
Sorel is using the words ironically to indicate those naive, philanthropically disposed people who believe that they have discovered the solution to the problem of social reformwhose attitude, however, is often complicated by a good deal of hypocrisy, they being frequently rapacious when their own personal interests are at stake. Georges sorel and jeremy jennings, reflections on violence new york. Georges sorel project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Written by georges sorel, this book was to become required reading for revolutionaries around the world. Georges sorel, early 20th century georges eugene sorel 2 november 1847 29 august 1922 was a french philosopher and theorist of sorelianism. This new edition of sorel s classic text is accompaniedbyaneditorsintroductionbyjeremyjennings,alead. Reflections on violence first appeared as a series of articles in le mouvement socialiste in 1906. Malcolm anderson profesor of politics, university of edinburgh. Reflections on violence by sorel, georges, 18471922. His notion of the power of myth in peoples lives inspired marxists and fascists. Reflections on violence, first appeared as a series of articles in le mouvement socialiste early in 1906 and has been widely translated.
A philosophical work published in 1908 by the french revolutionary syndicalist georges sorel. During his lifetime he was a somewhat obscure figure, not widely read but closely supported. Reflections on violence sorel pdf georges sorels reflections on violence is one of the most contro versial books of the. This paper traces readings of georges sorel 18471922 from carl schmitt to saul bellow. George sorels reflections on violence is a maddening work, giving the reader an insightful portrait of the chaotic and conflict ridden french workers movement. Sorel is known for his theory that political revolution depends on the proletariat organizing violent uprisings and strikes to institute syndicalism, an economic system in which syndicats selforganizing groups of. Sorel was a socialist, a syndicalist, and after 1917, a vigorous admirer of lenin. Reflections on violence dover books on history, political.
This element of amorality, which i will shortly discuss briefly, is. Georges sorel is the key to all contemporary political thought. Available in the national library of australia collection. Sorel is known for his theory that political revolution depends on the proletariat organizing violent uprisings. Sorel developed an original and provocative theory on the positive, even creative, role of myth and violence in the historical process. Sorel, georges 18471922 after a long career as an engineer in france, sorel resigned to become an independent scholar, and in the thirtyfive years before his death published a stream of books and articles on social theory, marxism, and the philosophy of the social sciences most notably reflections on violence, 1908, and the illusions of. Jan 05, 2010 buy reflections on violence by sorel, georges isbn. I am sure that the reflections which i here submit to you, and which you have provoked, will be very useful to those who wish to read this book with profit.
Reflections on violence by georges sorel, 9781523201884, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Reflections on viol ence by sorel, georges, 18471922. In 1908 in reflections on violence sorel tried to build a bridge between proudhons anarchism, nietzschean violence and bergsonian dynamics 1912, p. Developing the ideas of violence, myth and the general strike, sorel celebrates the heroic action of the proletariat as a means of saving the modern world from decadence and of reinvigorating the capitalist spirit of a timid bourgeoisie.
Sorel georges 18471922 french philosopher, social theorist and advocate of anarchosyndicalism, best known for his espousal of the roles ofmythand violence in social affairs. Read the fulltext online edition of reflections on violence 1950. For this reason alone it is worth reading as a historical document, despite the authors. Georges sorels reflections on violence 1908 remains a controversial text to this day. The paperback of the reflections on violence by georges sorel, t.
Georges sorel, in full georges eugene sorel, born november 2, 1847, cherbourg, francedied august 30, 1922, boulognesurseine, french socialist and revolutionary syndicalist who developed an original and provocative theory on the positive, even creative, role of myth and violence in the historical process. Sorel, reflections on violence edited by jeremy jennings. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Klassenstrijd, strikes and lockouts, politiek geweld, syndicalisme, violence, vakbeweging, syndicalism, social conflict, greves et lockout, stakingen, history of ideas, intellectual history, violence in society, political science, labor. Sorel was a civil servant who fervently believed that only the clearest and most brutal expression of class war could effect lasting social change. Ship this item qualifies for free shipping buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but. Georges sorel s reflections on violence is one of the most controversial books of the twentieth century.
Sorel georges article about sorel georges by the free. Georges sorel, letter to daniel halevy 1907 georges sorel 18471922 stated his theory of social myths most clearly in a letter to daniel halevy in 1907, from which these selections are taken. After all, sorel did provide very disparate movements of his day with stirring slogans. Georges sorel, autonomy and violence in the third republic date. Many of the ideas within would later influence fascists and as well as socialists. Cambridge texts in the history of political thought isbn 0 521 55117 x hardback 0 521 55910 3 paperback 1. Buy reflections on violence by sorel, georges isbn. His notion of the power of myth in peoples lives in particular, national myth inspired socialists, anarchists, marxists, and fascists. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Written in french, and published in book form in 1908, reflections of violence was a treatise on the necessity of violence as a means of social change. Reflections on violence by georges sorel, 1999 online. Aug 19, 2018 glory which was a value without equal, created by greece, and as a result of which a selection was made from the swarming masses of humanity, life acquired an incentive and there was a recompense here for those who had pursued the good and the beautiful.
Sorel responded not only to the workeris movement and to the moral. His relevance for critical organisation studies by norman jackson and pippa carter visiting fellows, the school of management university of leicester uk paper to be presented at cms 20, university of manchester stream. This idea is articulated in sorels 1898 pamphlet, lavenir socialiste des syndicats, which, if we keep in mind that the findesiecle french syndicat is a more open and flexible institution than 20 th century trade unions, we can call the socialist future of the unions. Reflections on violence by georges sorel, 1950 online.
Georges sorels reflections on violence is one of the most controversial books of the twentieth century. Sorel addresses the factors underlying revolutionary movements and examines the roles of violence the revolutionary denial of the existing social. Georges sorel, autonomy and violence in the third republic. It heralded the political turmoil of the decades that were to follow its publication and provided inspiration for marxists and fascists alike. Georges sorel 18471922 was an important figure in the development of radical leftwing theory during the early decades of the twentieth century, and his ideas strongly influenced the work of some major marxist thinkers, including antonio gramsci, 2 georg lukacs, 3 jose carlos mariategui 4 and antonio labriola. Reviewed by sheldon ztvordokov january 28, 2005 written in french, and published in book form in 1908, reflections of violence was a treatise on the necessity of violence as a means of social change. Georges sorel, autonomy and violence in the third republic by eric wendeborn brandom department of history. Find reflections on violence by sorel, georges at biblio. The decadence of the bourgeoisie and violence 65 iii. Critical management studies and anarchism june 20 abstract georges sorel was a controversial theorist of the. It was originally published in serial form in le mouvement socialiste in 1906. Sorel, to summarise, discussed from afar a movement which already existed.
Br, 88 georges bataille 18971962 is still probably best known as a writer of erotic fiction and as a precursor of poststructuralism, but what do we really know about bataille. Sorel argues that the success of the proletariat in class struggle depended on the creation of a catastrophic and violent revolution achieved through a general strike. Georges sorel, emile durkheim, and the social foundations of. Georges batailles ethics of violence1 angelos evangelou university of kent n understanding of georges batailles ethics of violence requires that violence be read in the general context of his theory of the heterogeneous,2 as well as from an amoral perspective.
1297 644 1155 1300 609 1554 579 1613 303 219 968 454 1542 622 1406 393 1169 1205 669 214 712 1197 70 1585 748 1239 97 78 259 880 570 790 729 385