Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Summary

The book «Socialism: Utopian and Scientific» by Friedrich Engels is an analysis of the evolution of socialist thought from utopian ideas to scientific socialism. Engels examines the works of utopians like Saint-Simon, Fourier, and Owen, explaining why their ideas were unfeasible in a capitalist society. He emphasizes that only with the development of a scientific approach, based on historical materialism, can socialism become a real force. Engels describes how Marxism, relying on economic and social laws, offers a practical program for transforming society, focusing on class struggle and the revolutionary role of the proletariat. The book serves as an introduction to Marxist theory and justifies the need to move from utopian dreams to a scientifically grounded struggle for socialism.