About
Claude-Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon, was a French philosopher and social theorist. Born into an impoverished noble family, he fought in the American Revolutionary War. During the French Revolution, he renounced his title and speculated on confiscated lands. After a period of mental illness, he devoted himself to writing works proposing a reorganization of society based on industry and science. His writings, notably 'New Christianity,' influenced utopian socialism and positivist sociology. He is regarded as a forerunner of socialist thought and sociology.
* 1760-10-17 — † 1825-05-19
Major works
- Lettres d'un habitant de Genève (1803)essay
- De la réorganisation de la société européenne (1814)essay
- L'Industrie (1817)periodical
- L'Organisateur (1819)periodical
- Nouveau Christianisme (1825)essay
Key milestones
- 1781Participated in the Battle of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1812-1813Suffered from mental illness and was treated by psychiatrist Philippe Pinel.
- 1825Published his final work, New Christianity, shortly before his death.
Themes
utopian socialismsociologyindustrialismmeritocracysocial reorganization
Sources: britannica.com · exhibits.stanford.edu