ABSTRACT
RatherthancharacterizeSorelasananti-intellectual,itmightbe moreprudenttonotethathesimplyexpandedtheintellectualist idealtoarationalstudyofirrationalfactorsinhumanbehaviour.It iscertainthattotheextentSoreltookandappliedLeBon'swork seriously,hecouldnolongerremainaffiliatedwithanymassmovement-evenoneprofessingthecollectiveemancipationfrompolitics. LeBon'scharactersketchesofirrationalmancomplementedPellouder'scritiqueoftheirrationalState.WhatremainedforSorelwas todiscoverageneralmotorforceinthesocialstructurewhichcould completeaphilosophicalpictureofthewaymenbehave.
