The Code of Nature, published anonymously in 1755, proposed a radical social order defined by the total abolition of private property. Authored by the French thinker Étienne-Gabriel Morelly, this treatise argued that the elimination of ownership would inherently dissolve the social ills of greed and inequality, establishing a framework that influenced generations of future political theorists.
Early Intellectual Contributions
Before his most influential work appeared, Morelly established himself as a writer and educator with a focus on metaphysics and human nature. He published Essai sur l'esprit humain in 1743 and Essai sur le coeur humain in 1745. His early career included a critique of Montesquieu and a 1751 treatise titled Le Prince, les délices des coeurs, ou traité des qualités d'un grand roi et système d'un sage gouvernement, which examined the attributes of leadership.
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The 1755 publication Code de la nature, ou le véritable esprit de ses lois gained attention as it was initially misattributed to prominent figures like Rousseau and Diderot. In this text, Morelly argued that private property served as the primary driver of human conflict and moral decay. He proposed a constitution that functioned without marriage, the church, organized police, or trade. Instead, he envisioned a society where goods were held in common and individuals accessed only what they required for immediate daily needs or work.
Legacy in Political Thought
Morelly’s insistence that property ownership beyond personal utility was harmful categorized him as a precursor to modern socialist and communist ideology. His vision of distribution—collecting durable goods in public stores for communal access—echoed principles of resource management that thinkers like François-Noël Babeuf, Charles Fourier, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Louis Blanc, Friedrich Engels, and Karl Marx later debated. His work remains a fixture in historical philosophical discourse regarding the structural requirements for an egalitarian society.
Fast facts
- Born: 1717, Vitry-le-François
- Died: 1778
- Citizenship: France
- Occupations: writer, politician, philosopher
- Notable Work: Code de la nature (1755)
- Early Work: Essai sur l'esprit humain (1743)
Questions readers ask
Why was The Code of Nature initially attributed to other philosophers?
The text was published anonymously in 1755, leading contemporary readers to speculate it was written by established figures like Rousseau or Diderot.
What was Morelly's stance on trade?
He proposed a complete ban on trade, suggesting that citizens should gather necessary items like food from public squares where producers left them for daily consumption.
