Category:Socialism

So"cial*ism, n. Etym: [cf. F. socialisme.]

Defn: a theory or system of social reform which contemplates a Complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable Distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is Often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See communism, fourierism, saint-simonianism, forms of socialism. [socialism] was first applied in england to owen's theory of social Reconstruction, and in france to those also of st. Simon and fourier . . . The word, however, is used with a great variety of meaning,. . . even by economists and learned critics. The general tendency is to Regard as socialistic any interference undertaken by society on Behalf of the poor,. . . radical social reform which disturbs the Present system of private property. . . The tendency of the present Socialism is more and more to ally itself with the most advanced Democracy. Encyc. Brit. We certainly want a true history of socialism, meaning by that a History of every systematic attempt to provide a new social existence For the mass of the workers. F. Harrison.