The leader who circulated the idea of "Castles in the Air" for societal reform was Edward Bellamy. His vision, articulated in the utopian novel "Looking Backward," published in 1888, proposed an ideal future where society operated on principles of equality and cooperation rather than competition. Bellamy's ideas suggested a world where the means of production were collectively owned, and individuals contributed to the common good, promoting social justice. His work inspired various reform movements, including the Equal Rights for Labor Movement, and sparked discussions on socialism in America, advocating for an alternative to the capitalist system prevalent at the time.