Was Sorel's concept of violence debated?
Indeed, my emphasis on violence has been a persistent point of contention. Critics often misinterpret my arguments, seeing them as a simple endorsement of wanton destruction. However, I distinguished between brute force, which is coercive and sterile, and proletarian violence, which I saw as a heroic and regenerative force. This violence is tied to the myth of the general strike, a necessary act of social struggle that purifies the movement and its adherents, preventing them from succumbing to compromise and decay. My intent was to highlight the necessary role of struggle in social transformation, not to advocate for mere barbarity.
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