Robert Owen: businessman, economist-theorist and science fiction writer (to the 350th anniversary of his birth)

. Robert Owen is a very prominent figure in the history of economic thought in England in the early XIX century. His talent was evident as an economist-theorist and in his organizational skills, which allowed Owen to make significant improvements in the textile industry.Purpose is to generalize the economic views of a prominent economist in conjunction with his experimental and reformist activities in production in order to create an «ideal labor community» that will improve the world of capitalism, provide high profits for entrepreneurs and prosperous lives of employees. Analyze the views of the scientist on the ways and means of creating a future society.Methods. The methodological basis of the study are such general scientific methods as analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, which were used to assess the views and recommendations of the scientist to improve existing social relations; historical method – to understand the causes and essence of the evolution of views on existing society and the importance of moral and educational education; positive and normative methods – to study the common and distinctive features in the views of the future social order of the representatives of utopian socialism.Results. A large number of works by R. Owen have been studied and it has been found that his social utopia and reformist activities were contradictory, his «projects» were mostly unrealistic, but same time had a significant impact on the labor and trade union movement in England and the development of economic thought. The scientist found that private property was the cause of many crimes and misfortunes. It was found that R. Owen had been focused on trying to make practical changes, develop specific proposals for the restructuring of society, improving working conditions and living conditions of workers. He saw the possibility of improving the living conditions of employees in the organization of community work, the effectiveness of which he tested during the famous experiment in New Lenark. According to R. Owen, a good society should be based on science and governed by simple and healthy principles of equality and justice.Discussion. The prospect of further research lies in a deeper and more detailed analysis of individual works of the famous economist, that will help to understand the logic of his way of thinking and give a more objective assessment of the contribution of R. Owen in the development of world economic thought.