superlyre · updated · flag · 6

In 1841, near West Roxbury, Massachusetts, there was a socialist utopian experiment led by George Ripley at a two hundred acre estate. Based on the principles inspired by Charles Fourier, educated men and women participated and carried out a shared communal life and labour, building a Phalanstère (a self-contained utopian building). But in March 1846, the building caught fire. Starting with a severe financial setback, the experiment eventually failed.


Comments


theotherside ·

Very interesting! This brings so many questions to mind. But, the key reason for failure was their lack of financial stability. This would mean such a commune could only succeed if it were to prioritize finances, which would lead to incentivizing generating better finances which seems to ultimately result in the capitalistic ideals of our present day societies.