Phalansterian is a term used to describe a follower of the French social reformer Charles Fourier, who advocated for communal living arrangements. The spelling of this word is pha-lan-ster-i-an, with an emphasis on the second syllable. The phonetic transcription is /fəˈlænstɪriən/. The tricky part of this word is the "ph" sound, which is actually pronounced as an "f" sound. This term is not commonly used today, but it is an interesting artifact of 19th-century social reform movements.
The term "Phalansterian" refers to an individual or pertaining to a French utopian socialist movement called Phalansterianism, which originated in the early 19th century. Coined by Charles Fourier, a French social theorist, it denotes a follower or supporter of his social and economic system based on collective living arrangements, shared resources, and harmony between social classes.
In its broader sense, a "Phalansterian" represents someone who advocates for Fourier's principles of utopian socialism. These principles revolve around the creation of a utopian society wherein individuals live in self-sufficient communities, known as phalansteries, where they cooperate in all aspects of life, including work, leisure, and decision-making. The Phalansterians envision a society free from social inequalities, exploitation, and competition, instead emphasizing cooperation, passion, and the pursuit of individual happiness within communal harmony.
The epitome of Fourier's Phalansterian beliefs is the establishment of a harmonious environment where all individuals are engaged in various roles and tasks according to their passions and skills. Each task is compensated based on labor credits, ensuring fairness and equal distribution of resources among the members of the phalanstery. These self-sufficient communities were intended to be adaptable and scalable, capable of accommodating various sizes, from small villages to large cities.
Overall, the term "Phalansterian" serves as a descriptor for those who espouse Fourier's utopian ideals of social, economic, and communal harmony, valuing cooperation, egalitarianism, and collective living for the betterment of society.
The word "Phalansterian" is derived from "phalanstery", which in turn comes from the French word "phalanstère". The term was originally coined by the early 19th-century French social philosopher Charles Fourier, who developed the concept of creating ideal communities called "phalansteries". A phalanstery, according to Fourier's vision, would be a self-sufficient and cooperative society where members work together and share resources. The word "phalanstery" is made up of the Greek word "phalang-" meaning "group" or "phalanx", and the suffix "-sterion", referring to a place or location. Consequently, a "Phalansterian" refers to a follower or supporter of Charles Fourier's ideas or a member of a phalanstery.