Brownson vs. Ripley

Orestes Brownson - “The Laboring Classes”
In a very different direction than Ripley – he wants a drastic, bloody, destructive revolution rather than a peaceful, communitarion union that will come around slowly like Brook Farm.
Brownson wants us to ask ourselves if we are really that much better off by putting ourselves into the slavery of “the man”. He thinks we need to take a step back and do the labor for ourselves.
The Russian Revolution – On the tail end of World War 1, the reds rose up and attempted to abolish hereditary property. Brownson's believes come to light.
A very prophetic work. Amazingly accurate and knowing as to what would need to be done or happen when his thoughts came to light.

Ripley - “Brook Farm”
This very quickly became a plea for funds.... the economy of a union position does seem interesting though.
The fact there becomes more people in one area, you just cause more problems. Walden pond becomes a much more beautiful place when you are living by yourself and doing what you want, instead of whatever is good for the collective whole.
Promise lots of liberty while taking so much freedom.
Nathaniel Hawthorne did live there for the first year of the commune.

They talk about how this system is built to take away competitiveness, but we all know (as did Emerson) that there is always going to be competition.
Emerson and his farmer friend knew that good work would discontinue if the worker were not directly benefited.

- After reading the two, I think that Brownson actually knows more about the “unchanging laws of human nature” that Ripley does, even though Ripley is the one that talks about it. I believe that one of the only actual unchanging laws is that there will always be discourse, or abrasiveness, between any type of party. Thus, it is only human nature to destroy, rather than to live in peace. Brownson comes across as the one to live by, at least in these two readings.




***Walden Pond – July 4th, 1845!!***