The Soul of Man under Socialism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

1017

Title

The Soul of Man under Socialism

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Oscar Wilde's seminal essay argues that Socialism, by eliminating poverty and the tyranny of private property, will liberate humanity to pursue true Individualism. Wilde contends that art and life flourish only when individuals are free from the necessity of labor for others, allowing for a society based on joy, beauty, and spontaneous sympathy rather than pity or pain.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The Soul of Man under Socialism,' Oscar Wilde presents a provocative manifesto arguing that true Individualism can only flourish within a Socialist framework. Wilde contends that the current system of private property forces the majority into a life of drudgery and poverty, compelling them to act out of misguided altruism that merely prolongs societal ills. He asserts that the security of society must be guaranteed by the community, freeing the individual from the 'sordid necessity' of working merely to survive. Wilde distinguishes between the 'ugly' work of survival, which should be performed by machines or a collective, and the 'beautiful' work of creation, which must remain the domain of the free individual. He critiques the public's tendency to demand popular, conventional art, arguing that true art is an intense mode of Individualism that disturbs monotony and refuses to conform to public taste. Wilde redefines selfishness not as a vice but as the natural pursuit of self-development, while true unselfishness is allowing others to live their own lives without interference. Furthermore, Wilde challenges the era's obsession with pain and suffering as the path to perfection, suggesting that once Socialism and Science remove the causes of misery, humanity will evolve toward a state of joyous harmony. He posits that the future holds a 'new Hellenism' where man lives intensely and fully, realizing his perfection through joy rather than the provisional and tragic path of pain that characterized previous ages. Ultimately, the essay is a vision for a society where the security of the community enables the freedom of the individual, allowing for a culture of beauty and a life lived without the degradation of want. Wilde warns against authoritarian socialism, insisting that all association must be voluntary and that every man must be left free to choose his own work. He concludes that the evolution of man is slow and often necessitated by pain, but the future aims for an Individualism expressing itself through joy, achieving a perfect harmony that the Greeks and Renaissance could not fully realize due to their reliance on slavery.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Politics