ipl-logo

George Sorel's Reflections On Violence

1572 Words7 Pages

George Sorel 's radical political philosophy can be characterized as deeply controversial not only because of its exact content, but also because of its historical role. On the one hand, his most famous book, Reflections on Violence, is a canonical text for the anarcho-syndicalist tradition. On the other hand, it was embraced by the fascist politics, for instance, by Mussolini. One of the most nuanced receptions of Reflections on Violence can be seen in 'Critique of Violence ', a remarkable essay by Walter Benjamin which he wrote in 1920. In this essay, Benjamin critically assesses the whole historical structure of the law by applying the explicitly Sorelian ideas of violence and the general proletarian strike. However, as I will try to demonstrate …show more content…

Sorel 's Radical Project Sorel was one of the most prominent figures of the French early 20th century Marxism, but he was radically opposed to the tradition of parliamentary socialism. Indeed, this disdain for parliamentarism is what he and Benjamin definitely share. In his most remarkable work, Reflections on Violence, Sorel fiercely attacks such figures as Jean Jaurès and other members of the French parliament. He views parliamentary socialism as a clear betrayal of the genuine Marxist principles, that is, of the commitment to the task of overthrowing capitalist state and economical system, instead of reforming it. Sorel 's Reflections on Violence is not a mere intellectual endeavor; rather, it is a revolutionary guideline. As Chiaria Bottici notes in A Philosophy of Political Myth, this Sorel 's text 'clearly has an activist intent: to develop a severe critique of the parliamentary socialists and their neglect of the primary role played by proletarian violence in history ' (Bottici 2007, 159). In Reflections on Violence Sorel tries to develop a specific revolutionary ethics which will be true to the genuine Marxism. He explicitly states that the task of his study is 'to deepen our understanding of moral conduct ' (Sorel 2004, 40). It is crucial that moral conduct is associated here with political practices and, ultimately, with proletarian

Show More
Related

Comparing Death In 'Sniper And The Censors'

603 Words | 3 Pages

My Mother and Father always tell me to not fear death because at some point it will come. They say I can not avoid it. I find it ironic that people fear the one thing in life that is going to happen no matter what. The fear of death is what pushes the two stories that will be compared in this essay. The irony in both deal with death and what people will do to keep from dying or to protect others from this inevitable occurrence.

Read More

Reign Of Terror Dbq Essay

987 Words | 4 Pages

The development of the French Revolution mirrors the development of egalitarian freedom over oppressive ideals, only emphasised through changed’ government systems; what began as a fight for equality, soon disfigured to radicalised egalitarianism and oppressive tyranny. Initially, a progressive society based on an obsolete government, the French Revolution epitomises the power of the people and the arbitrariness of revolution, echoed through the changes of governance systems. The impetus of the Revolution - socio-political and economic inequity against the bourgeoisie and proletariat, established the foundations of the revolution, its’ importance accentuated in the source below. The immensity of political unrest in France dominantly influenced

Read More

Bullying In Ender's Game By Orson Scott Card

639 Words | 3 Pages

Bullying is a big issue in society. When authors put bullying into their books it helps people see that bullying is not unseen. In Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card the main character, Ender, gets bullied a lot throughout the book. At the beginning Ender gets his monitor taken out.

Read More

Cesar Chavez Nonviolent Resistance Analysis

651 Words | 3 Pages

Here, Chavez presents that violence is not effective in the long run. Additionally, he adds that “people suffer from violence”. By stating that violence can be temporarily successful until another form replaces it, Chavez counters the idea that violence solves the issue once and for all. Consequently, his readers will ask themselves, why do we use violence if it is not long lasting success? By getting his reader to ask and answer this question, he is able to make them draw the conclusion that violence is not the superlative

Read More

Simone Weil's The Iliad, The Poem Of Force

1723 Words | 7 Pages

It is “the idea of destiny before which executioner and victim stand equally innocent” (95). Force is the "necessity of war" and its destruction that will ultimately pave the way for "the necessity of peace" (96). Without force 's destruction, as painful as it is, there is no room for peace 's creation. In Weil 's view, these creative and destructive powers, respectively, are equally products of necessity. Neither are the product of human activity, but instead, they are the result of influences beyond our control, a kind of destiny that we have no hand in deciding.

Read More

Five Criteria Of Moral Panics In Australia

1990 Words | 8 Pages

This essay will base on Goode and Ben-Yehuda’ five criteria of moral panic that include concern, hostility, consensus, disproportion and volatility, to examine the concern of the ‘one punch’ assault is a moral

Read More

Tapping The Roots Of Power Analysis

288 Words | 2 Pages

"Tapping the Roots of Power" and "An Active Technique of Struggle" are two chapters where Gene Sharp, analyzes how power is continuously interchangeable amongst the oppressed which are usually minorities and their oppressors which usually are symbolized by people of power. In both chapters, Sharp in great detail gives the reader many scenarios in which oppressed groups through civil disobedience fight against their oppressors, usually leading to victory which resembles freedom and liberation. Although oppressed groups have a great deal to loose, their constant struggling motivates them to fight against the oppressor and regain their liberty and rights back. Once minorities start to challenge authority, their obedience is lost. Once this happens,

Read More

Marx And Mussolini: The Manifesto Of The Feudal System

705 Words | 3 Pages

When the modern capitalist society has emerged, capitalism has massively impacted on many social aspects. The system had led to the dissolution and to an end of the Feudal system during the Middle Ages. There are many political thoughts, which consisted of significant frameworks for reforming and making some new changes to the society. This essay will mainly focus on two main political ideologies and identify the differences between these two houses, which are Marx and Mussolini. First, the German thinker, Marx, and a letter called “ Manifesto of the Communist Party”, bring about the concept of communism that was being used in many areas back in the olden days.

Read More

Hobbes Vs Rawls Analysis

1591 Words | 7 Pages

Political theorists, whether they are realists, or liberalists, over the centuries, have come into conflict over what they believe to be the utmost important task of the state. Hobbes believes the most important task of the state is to ensure law and order, rooting his argument in the idea of a sovereign ruler. On the other hand, Rawls, a modern theorist, firmly believes that a state should focus on realising justice within their society. While a utopian society cannot be achieved by either of these theories, I will highlight why Rawls was right in his assumption that the main focus of a state should be to ensure justice for all within their nation, through analysing and comparing the conflicting arguments of Hobbes and Rawls.

Read More

Ideas From The Communist Manifesto By Karl Marx And Friedrich Engels

1079 Words | 5 Pages

Foundations of Sociology (SOC10010) Mid-Term Essay: Question: ‘’Discuss three main ideas from the Communist Manifesto.’’ Answer: In this essay I have been asked to discuss three main ideas from the ‘’Communist Manifesto’’, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. To do this I will summarise three main ideas from the text and critically analyse them.

Read More

Violence In Brave New World

1033 Words | 5 Pages

What is violence? Violence is, as described by Google,”behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. Strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force. And the unlawful exercise of physical force or intimidation by the exhibition of such force.” Both 1984 by George Orwell, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley have violence threaded throughout each novel.

Read More

Marx And Engels: The Three Main Ideas

759 Words | 4 Pages

The three main ideas from the Communist Manifesto The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, had little to no influence when it was first published in 1848 for the Communist League. However, soon after Marx and Engel’s other writings on socialism became published it grew in popularity, and was considered a standard text of the time (Brians, 2006). With Marx’s radical ideas, and Engels’ thorough writing, they were able to convey how they were individual of the other socialists of the time and elaborate on their idea socialism and how it would inevitably be achieved. The three main ideas from The Communist Manifesto are class conflict, ephemeral capitalism, and inevitable revolution.

Read More

Private Peaceful Essay

465 Words | 2 Pages

Private Peaceful is a historical fiction novel written by Michael Morpurgo. The story is set in the homefront, school, and battlefront during World War I. This story revolves around the powerless Peaceful brothers, Charlie and Tommo, who face injustice between people who have power and people who do not. Throughout the novel, Morpurgo tells a message to the readers that the rich and powerful victimise the poor and the weak.

Read More

Analysis Of Everyday Forms Of Resistance By James Scott

1798 Words | 8 Pages

Imagine you are in the forest collecting sticks and twigs in an attempt to create some sort of sturdy object or, pillar that can withstand outside forces trying the break them. A single stick would likely break if you were to grab each end and try to bend it. If you were to add another twig it would take more force to break but, you would still be able to snap the sticks in half. As the analogy goes, the more sticks you add, the harder it becomes to bend and break the bundle. The same type of situation seems to be emphasized in James Scott’s article “Everyday Forms of Resistance”, in which the main idea keeps calling attention to the everyday forms of resistance demonstrated by lower class; the powerless individuals.

Read More

Communication In The Movie: Outsourced

853 Words | 4 Pages

Outsourced is made a movie in 2006, a romantic comedy film. The movie was written by George Wing and John Jeffcoat. It was directed by John Jeffcoat. The movie tells about the changing life of an American man Todd Anderson after he traveled to India. We can see that the importance of slangs in communication in the movie.

Read More

More about George Sorel's Reflections On Violence

Related Topics

Open Document