La Monnaie et les Systemes Monetaires

This paper examines the classical economists’ views on the virtues and limitations of competition contrasted with the projects of socialism existent at the time. The first section retrieves the evolution of socialistic doctrines in England and France until the first half of the nineteenth century, highlighting Robert Owen’s thesis. After that, Adam Smith, Jeremy Bentham, James Mill and David Ricardo’s comments on the equality of incomes, the worker’s condition and the private property are presented. The third section rescues some elements in John Stuart Mill’s early intellectual formation as well as his debate with William Thompson over the merits of the cooperative system in the London based Owenite society. The fourth section covers others influences on Stuart Mill’s social thought, specially on his more moderate reflections about the possible points of conflict or convergence between socialism and individual liberty. The closing remarks summarize the posture of the classical authors on the feasibility and opportunity of a radical reformation of capitalism

Economics · Political science · Philosophical and Historical Studies · Philosophy · Political and Social Issues

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