Another bit on “socialism,” from Proudhon’s “The Federative Principle”

Just another of those interesting definitions of “socialism,” from the mid-19th century. I first encountered this particular passage in Proudhon’s posthumously published study of Napoleon III, but is originally from the still-untranslated second part of The Federative Principle.

“Qui dit socialisme, dans le bon et vrai sens du mot, dit naturellement liberté du commerce et de l’industrie, mutualité de l’assurance, réciprocité du crédit, peréquation de l’impôt, équilibre et sécurité des fortunes, participation de l’ouvrier aux chances des entreprises, inviolabilité de la famille dans la transmission héréditaire.”

“Whoever says socialism, in the good and true sense of the word, says naturally liberty of commerce and industry, mutuality of insurance, reciprocity of credit, balancing out of taxes, equilibrium and security of fortunes, participation of the worker in the fortunes of businesses, inviolability of the family in inheritance.”

About Shawn P. Wilbur 2702 Articles
Independent scholar, translator and archivist.

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