Socialism, while protesting, and with reason, against this
anarchical competition, has as yet proposed nothing satisfactory
for its regulation, as is proved by the fact that we meet
everywhere, in the utopias which have seen the light, the
determination or socialization of value abandoned to arbitrary
control, and all reforms ending, now in hierarchical corporation,
now in State monopoly, or the tyranny of communism.
CHAPTER VI.
FOURTH PERIOD.--MONOPOLY.
Monopoly, the exclusive commerce, exploitation, or enjoyment of a
thing.
Monopoly is the natural opposite of competition. This simple
observation suffices, as we have remarked, to overthrow the
utopias based upon the idea of abolishing competition, as if its
contrary were association and fraternity. Competition is the
vital force which animates the collective being: to destroy it,
if such a supposition were possible, would be to kill society.
But, the moment we admit competition as a necessity, it implies
the idea of monopoly, since monopoly is, as it were, the seat of
each competing individuality.
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