Utopian Socialism is the start of modern Socialist thought. The Utopian Socialists believed that their ideal societies could be established in the immediate future and strived towards that. The term "Utopian Socialists" comes from Karl Marx who thought that they lacked historical understanding and felt that they would try to reform Capitalism instead of abolish it. The term is slightly misleading as the "Utopian Socialists" were never a cohesive group and all followed a different vision of the future.

Thinkers

Robert Owen (1771-1858) was a successful business man who made improvements in the lives of his employees. His reputation grew when he set up a textile factory in New Lanark, Scotland and introduced shorter working hours, schools for children and renovated housing. He also set up an Owenite commune called New Harmony in Indiana, USA. This collapsed when one of his business partners ran off with all the profits. Owen's main contribution to socialist thought was the view that human nature is plastic and can be changed, which is the cornerstone of all socialist thought.