ABSTRACT
Inordertoresolvetheproblemwehavesetforourselves,namely, underwhatconditionswasSorel'suniquecombinationofradicalism andirrationalismmoulded,wemustdefineinspecifictermsthe socialandintellectualmilieuoffindesiecleFrance.Whateverthe startingpointinsuchaninvestigation,Catholicism,Syndicalism, NationalismandSocialism,andtheformsoftheirinterpenetration, allmeritattention.TheintellectualtasksweresetforSorelbythis environmentoflifeandletters.Inthissetting,perhapsthestrongest elementinanimmediatesensewasCatholicism.Sorelwasbornand raisedaCatholic,livedhismarriedlifeaccordingtotherigidstandardsoftheTestaments,advocatedmoralpurificationasthebasisof proletarianregenerationand,aboveall,numberedamonghisvery closestassociatesbetween1895and1905CharlesPeguy-perhapsthe mostsignificantvoiceinFrenchsocialChristianitysinceProudhon.
