J. Antall szerk.: Medical history in Hungary 1972. Presented to the XXIII. International Congress of the History of Medicine / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 6. (Budapest, 1972)
M. Vida: State-Models (Utopias) and Sociology of Medicine
26 Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist. Artis Med. Suppl. 6.) 4. THE UTOPIAN SOCIALISM The great generation of Saint-Simon, Fourier and Owen exert their activities at the turn of the century and subsequently at the first decades of the 19th century. Not only two centuries, but the differences of two social forms separated their activities from the early Utopists. The period of classical capitalism evolved by the trustful rationalism of enlightenment and the French Revolution possessed an adequate ideological philosophical and practical experience. The antagonism between hope and reality became wider and wider, "Only those people were missing —Engels wrote —who stated this disappointment and they arrived at the turn of the century. Saint-Simon's *Genevan Letters' were published in 1802, the first work of Fourier appeared in 1808, although the base of his theory originated from 1799, Robert Owen took over the leadership of New Lanark on the 1 s t of January in 1800."* 9 On the contrary of the theoretical view of the forebears, Utopian socialists formulated their "messianistic theory" based primarily upon the social condition of the masses. Their aim was to solve existing social, political problems representing the interest of the suffering masses, of the working class of the early capitalism. While Plato, Thomas More, Campanella and also the immediate forebears imagined the alteration of state-forms, the Utopian socialists fought for the improvement of the social condition of one social class, namely the working class. Not only theoretically, but in a practical way as well —if it was necessary, by offering their belongings —they attempted to realize their ideas. In spite of the naivity of their imagination they had numerous followers, not only in Europe, but in the American continent too. Not only Fourier and Owen tried the long line of their faithfull disciples and students. In spite of the unsuccessful efforts they found a mass response, while the Utopias of forebears were isolated. The foreunners only dreamt of an ideal state, on the other hand Fourier and Owen fanatically believed in destroying poverty and ignorance by bringing to the daylight. Their ideas completely and detailed and they may build up the strong power of happiness and understanding. Their activity was also characterized by the purpose and attempt of realization. The activity of Utopian socialists was the organic continuation of the inwardness of French enlightenment, encyclopaedists and the literary and sociological activity of "philosophers" who called themselves writer-philosophers. Condillac, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, D'Alambert, Rousseau, Holbach, Lamettrie were not only social-philosophers but also participants of the revolution of social sciences of this period. The scientific aspect of modern times was supported by a very young sciences; biology . The so far rigorous categories of the scientific way of thinking were broken up by the hydra —"habarniça"— "rather a plant , but it nourishes like an animal, gemmiparous, like a plant and Engels, F.: Anti Dühring. Bp. 1950. 264 p.
