Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Socialism: Utopian and Scientific (1880) is a pamphlet written and published by German philosopher and revolutionary socialist Friedrich Engels. These writings originally appeared in his 1878 book Herr E. Düring’s Umwalzung der Wissenschaft (1878), also known as Anti-Dühring. This piece is a comprehensive defense of Marxist Socialism against Eugen Dühring’s proposed alternative. Although Anti-Dühring was originally published in Engels’s native German, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific was first published in French at the request of friend and colleague Paul Lafargue. The book is an argument for the merits of scientific socialism, which is a Marxist method of examining and explaining sociopolitical and socioeconomic phenomena.

Socialism: Utopian and Scientific is a foundational Marxist text which remains influential in left-wing academic circles. In the pantheon of canonical Marxist writers and thinkers, Engels is widely considered to be second only to Karl Marx himself. Socialism: Utopian and Scientific is among his most influential works, along with The Condition of the Working Class (1845).  

Please note, the edition referenced for the creation of this study guide is sourced from Marx/Engels Selected Works, Vol. 3 (Progress Publishers, 1970). It was reproduced as an eBook by Andrew Lannan and Zodiac/Brian Baggins and has been archived on Marxists.org for free.

Summary

The bulk of this text is preceded by four introductions. The first introduction, “1880 Introduction to the French Edition,” was written by Karl Marx. He provides a short biography of Engels, names his major accomplishments, and praises his scholarship.

The second introduction, “1882 Preface to the First German Edition,” is written by Engels, as is the rest of the pamphlet. He describes the publication history of Socialism: Utopian and Scientific and discusses a few of his editorial choices in the process of translation.

The third introduction, “1892 English Edition, Introduction 1: General Introduction and the History of Materialism,” describes the origins of this work, both in terms of its initial publication in Anti-Dühring and the motivation behind its creation. Engels also discusses historical materialism, introduces a three-period history of post-medieval industry, and addresses the backlash he expects to receive from British readers.

The fourth introduction, “1892 English Edition Introduction 2: History (the role of Religion) in the English middle-class,” details the post-medieval role of religion, science, and revolution among the English middle class.

“Part 1: The Development of Utopian Socialism” traces contemporary (late 19th Century) socialism’s philosophical lineage. Engels cites the “three great Utopians”—Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825), Charles Fourier (1772-1837), and Robert Owen (1771-1858)—praising their strengths and addressing their shortcomings.

“Part 2: Dialectics” reviews the history of the dialectical method, paying particular attention to the works of the foundational German Idealist Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). The dialectical method is a discourse between two individuals or ideas, operating as a form of philosophical inquiry. Engels further describes modern Marxist socialism as a more scientific predecessor to the first wave of utopians.

“Part 3: Historical Materialism” presents historical materialism as a science. Historical materialism views history through the lens of class struggle and changes to modes of productions. Engels uses this framework to address European socioeconomic issues and outline a projected future wherein socialism takes hold, social classes collapse, and the state dissolves.