fourierism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low / ObscureSpecialised / Academic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “fourierism” mean?
A utopian socialist system advocating communal living and production, based on the ideas of Charles Fourier.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A utopian socialist system advocating communal living and production, based on the ideas of Charles Fourier.
The collective theories and sociopolitical philosophy developed by Charles Fourier, which critiqued industrial capitalism and proposed the organization of society into small, self-sufficient cooperative communities called 'phalanxes', where work would be made enjoyable and individual passions harnessed for the collective good.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally historical/academic in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral historical descriptor, sometimes with a slight antiquarian or esoteric nuance.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, appearing almost exclusively in historical, political science, or economic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “fourierism” in a Sentence
[Subject] advocates/practises/rejects Fourierism.Fourierism [verb] as a model for...The tenets/principles of Fourierism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fourierism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form. One might historically 'Fourierise': 'The community sought to Fourierise its structure.']
American English
- [No standard verb form. One might 'apply Fourierist principles'.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form.]
American English
- [No standard adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- The Fourierist community in Hampshire was short-lived.
- His Fourierist ideals seemed quaint by the 20th century.
American English
- She studied Fourierist experiments in 19th-century Massachusetts.
- The journal published a Fourierist critique of industrial society.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political theory, and economics to describe a specific 19th-century socialist movement.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Not used in STEM; potential for confusion with terms from Fourier analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fourierism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fourierism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fourierism”
- Misspelling (e.g., 'Fourerism', 'Fouriasm').
- Using it as a general term for any socialism or communism.
- Confusing it with the mathematical Fourier analysis.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fourierism is a pre-Marxist, utopian form of socialism focused on small, voluntary cooperative communities. It lacked Marx's theory of class struggle, historical materialism, and advocacy for a large-scale workers' revolution.
Charles Fourier (1772–1837) was a French philosopher and early socialist thinker critical of the misery and inefficiency he saw in contemporary commerce and industry. He proposed a detailed alternative social model.
A 'phalanx' was the ideal cooperative community of about 1600 people proposed by Fourier. A 'phalanstery' was the large, communal building designed to house such a community, combining private apartments with extensive shared facilities.
Its practical experiments largely failed, it was superseded by more influential socialist theories (like Marxism), and its specific, sometimes eccentric, proposals (on passions, architecture, etc.) made it seem less relevant as industrial society developed differently.
A utopian socialist system advocating communal living and production, based on the ideas of Charles Fourier.
Fourierism is usually specialised / academic / historical in register.
Fourierism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfʊəriərɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfʊriəˌrɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to the term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: FOURierism aimed to re-FOUR-m society into groups (phalanxes) where work was not a chore.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A MACHINE THAT CAN BE REDESIGNED FOR HARMONY.
Practice
Quiz
Fourierism is primarily associated with which field?