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Fascists and Honourable MenVirtue, Virtuosity and the Ethos of Professionalism

Fascists and Honourable Men: Virtue, Virtuosity and the Ethos of Professionalism [Gustave Le Rouge (1867–1938), a popular science fiction novelist, wrote about the engineers that they belonged ‘to those true researchers who are a race apart, whose chosen ones are recognized by mysterious signs in the midst of the ignorant human crowds’.1 This depiction of the engineers as a religious cult with its own rituals and mystique echoes the saint-simonian jargon of the first half of the nineteenth century. In his first major work, Lettres d’un habitant de Genève a ses contemporains, Saint-Simon argued that during the Revolution, scientists found themselves obliged to serve the triumphant propertied class rather than society as a whole. This, he claimed, was a far cry from the wishes and designs of the fathers of the Revolution. Instead of this unhealthy situation he proposed that: ‘politics be entrusted exclusively to a special class of scientists who will impose silence on all twaddle.’2 Saint-Simon was by no means alone in his celebration of science as a basis for social unity; the period of the Directory had seen the promotion of political science by the Ideologues who, with reference to Condorcet, attempted to formulate a scientific alternative to Christianity which would serve as a new epistemological basis for liberal politics. Saint-Simon was, however, much more ambitious: his scientists were to enjoy a truly sacerdotal status; hence he called for the establishment of a scientific priesthood which would preach the religion of Newton. ] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

Fascists and Honourable MenVirtue, Virtuosity and the Ethos of Professionalism

Part of the Studies in Modern History Book Series
Amzalak, Nimrod
Fascists and Honourable Men — Oct 26, 2015
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References (4)

Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan UK
Copyright
© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011
ISBN
978-1-349-33414-8
Pages
32 –60
DOI
10.1057/9780230316898_2
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[Gustave Le Rouge (1867–1938), a popular science fiction novelist, wrote about the engineers that they belonged ‘to those true researchers who are a race apart, whose chosen ones are recognized by mysterious signs in the midst of the ignorant human crowds’.1 This depiction of the engineers as a religious cult with its own rituals and mystique echoes the saint-simonian jargon of the first half of the nineteenth century. In his first major work, Lettres d’un habitant de Genève a ses contemporains, Saint-Simon argued that during the Revolution, scientists found themselves obliged to serve the triumphant propertied class rather than society as a whole. This, he claimed, was a far cry from the wishes and designs of the fathers of the Revolution. Instead of this unhealthy situation he proposed that: ‘politics be entrusted exclusively to a special class of scientists who will impose silence on all twaddle.’2 Saint-Simon was by no means alone in his celebration of science as a basis for social unity; the period of the Directory had seen the promotion of political science by the Ideologues who, with reference to Condorcet, attempted to formulate a scientific alternative to Christianity which would serve as a new epistemological basis for liberal politics. Saint-Simon was, however, much more ambitious: his scientists were to enjoy a truly sacerdotal status; hence he called for the establishment of a scientific priesthood which would preach the religion of Newton. ]

Published: Oct 26, 2015

Keywords: Social Hierarchy; Technical School; Engineering Profession; Salaried Employee; Interwar Period

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