Sorel, Georges 1847-1922
French social philosopher

Born in Cherbourg, Manche, he studied engineering and worked in the government department of bridges and roads (1870-92). He resigned his post to devote himself to the study of philosophy and social theory, and in particular the works of Nietzsche, Marx and Henri Bergson. His best-known work is R�flexions sur la violence (1908, 'Reflections on Violence'), in which he argued that political opposition must resort to violence and that socialism would only be achieved by confrontation and revolution. His work was read by political leaders as diverse as Lenin and Mussolini.