Georges Sorel

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Georges Sorel Criticism

Georges Sorel (1847-1922) was a French social and political theorist whose ideas have significantly influenced diverse movements such as Russian Bolshevism and Italian Fascism, as well as various left-wing radical groups. Sorel blended socio-economic thoughts from Karl Marx with philosophical insights from figures like Schopenhauer, Bergson, Croce, and Nietzsche. His work critiques rational and empirical methodologies for failing to capture the broader spectrum of human nature, emphasizing elements like sexuality, religion, and nationality. Sorel's most famous work, Reflexions sur la violence, proposes that such instincts form a timeless mythology driven by the quest for freedom, which could justify violent action.

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