Georges Sorel French philosopher Date of Birth: 02.11.1847 Country: France

1. Biography of Georges Sorel
2. Antidemocratic and Antiliberal Position
3. Reflections on Violence
4. The Question of Social "Mechanism"

Biography of Georges Sorel

Georges Sorel was a French philosopher who was deeply influenced by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. After graduating from the Polytechnic School in Paris, he worked for twenty-five years in the state department of bridges and roads. During this time, Sorel dedicated a considerable amount of time to revising Marx's views, engaging in friendly correspondence with B. Croce. He was also interested in the works of Renan and Bergson.

Antidemocratic and Antiliberal Position

Sorel held an antidemocratic and antiliberal position, rejecting the inevitability of progress and the humanization of society. In his work "Les Illusions du progrès" (The Illusions of Progress, 1908), he viewed society as a physical object subject to entropy and decay according to the second law of thermodynamics. Sorel believed that these tendencies could only be halted by the heroic efforts of individuals with the will to act and the ability to resort to violent measures in order to achieve their ideals.

Reflections on Violence

Sorel's most famous work is "Réflexions sur la violence" (Reflections on Violence, 1908), which concentrates his syndicalist ideas. He believed that industrial workers, through self-organization, could regain a sense of dignity and responsibility. This, in turn, would lead to the formation of a new morality, replacing the middle class's "decadence." Sorel believed that the only way to motivate workers to take action was to instill in them the belief in the possibility of overthrowing the existing system of government through a general strike.

The Question of Social "Mechanism"

Throughout his life, Sorel was interested in the question of the social "mechanism" that could ensure the moral improvement of humanity. Failing to find an answer to this question, he became extremely pessimistic about the future of European civilization in his final years. Georges Sorel passed away on August 28, 1922, leaving behind a legacy of philosophical ideas that challenged existing notions of progress and advocated for the use of violence to achieve societal change.