NCJ Number
63391
Date Published
1974
Length
286 pages
Annotation
FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1906, THIS WORK BY THE SOCIALIST PHILOSOPHER GEORGES SOREL PRESENTS A SYSTEMATIC THEORY OF VIOLENCE AND CALLS FOR THE SOCIALIST OVERTHROW OF EXISTING SOCIETY.
Abstract
PREDOMINANTLY CONCERNED WITH THE FORCES UNDERLYING REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS, THE BOOK INQUIRES INTO THE FUNCTIONS OF VIOLENCE, THE SOURCES OF POLITICAL POWER, THE WEAPONS OF REVOLUTIONS (THE INSURRECTION AND THE GENERAL STRIKE), AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF 'MYTHS' IN CONVERTING AND MOTIVATING PEOPLE. A DISCUSSION OF CLASS WAR AND VIOLENCE COVERS THE WARRING OF THE POOR AGAINST THE RICH, OPOSITION OF DEMOCRACY TO THE DIVISION OF CLASSES, METHODS OF BUYING SOCIAL PEACE, AND THE ILLUSIONS RELATING TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF VIOLENCE. THE CONSIDERATION OF VIOLENCE AND THE DECADENCE OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES INCLUDES EXAMINATION OF PARLIAMENTARIANS, PARNELL'S METHODS, ALLEGED DEGENERATION OF THE MIDDLE CLASS BROUGHT ABOUT BY PEACE, MARX'S CONCEPTIONS OF NECESSITY, AND THE RELATION BETWEEN REVOLUTION AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. A DISCUSSION OF PREJUDICES AGAINST VIOLENCE FOCUSES ON DRUMONT'S OBSERVATIONS ON MIDDLE-CLASS FEROCITY, THE JUDICIAL THIRD ESTATE AND THE HISTORY OF THE LAW COURTS, THE ATTITUDE OF THE DREYFUSARDS, AND ANTIMILITARISM AS PROOF OF THE ABANDONMENT OF MIDDLE-CLASS TRADITIONS. THE CONCEPT OF THE PROLETARIAN STRIKE IS DESCRIBED, INCLUDING COMMENTS ON THE VALUE OF AND SCIENTIFIC PREJUDICES AGAINST THE GENERAL STRIKE. POLITICAL GENERAL STRIKES, IN BELGIUM AND RUSSIA ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE USE MADE OF THE SYNDICATE BY POLITICIANS AND THE DIFFERENCES IN TWO CONCEPTIONS OF THE GENERAL STRIKE. AN ARGUMENT ON THE ETHICS OF VIOLENCE IS PUT FORTH, AND THE DISCUSSION TOUCHES THE ERA OF MARTYRS, OLD HABITS OF BRUTALITY IN SCHOOLS AND WORKSHOPS, MOTIVES BEHIND IDEAS ON ARBITRATION, SEARCH FOR THE SUBLIME IN MORALITY, AND TRADE UNIONISM. FINALLY, THE BOOK EXAMINES THE ETHICS OF THE PRODUCERS IN SOCIETY AND COVERS SUCH CONCEPTS AS MORALITY AND RELIGION, RENAN'S PREDICTIONS, NIETZCHE'S ETHICS, PROUDHON'S THEORY, ANALOGIES BETWEEN THE GENERAL STRIKE AND THAT OF THE WARS OF LIBERTY, AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ARTIST AND SOLDIER IN THE WARS OF LIBERTY. THE BOOK INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE AUTHOR; SOREL'S LETTER TO DANIEL HALEVY, THE INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST PUBLICATION, AND THREE APPENDIXES WITH ESSAYS ENTITLED 'UNITY AND MULTIPLICITY,' 'APOLOGY FOR VIOLENCE,' AND 'IN DEFENSE OF LENIN.' (PRG)