William Godwin
father of philosophical anarchism
History
William Godwin was born on March 3, 1756 Wisbech, United Kingdom. He had thirteen siblings and was the seventh. His father was a minister. His family were dissenters. At the age of 17, Godwin wanted to enter the ministry ,but then he became into a complete unbeliever. His republicanism and radicalism were influenced by the write Rousseau of the American revolution. After this, he started to write short novels, biographies and newspaper pieces. He died on April 7, 1836
ideas
He was the founder of philosophical anarchism. In his An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, he would said that a government was unnecessary and corrupted.
Influences/contributions
Godwin was important to the history of utilitarian. He invocated British and French writers. Godwin's last contributions was the "the famous fire cause". He wrote many philosophical works and novels.
- Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness(1793)
- Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams (1794)
- The Enquirer (1797; rev. 1823)
- Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1798)
- St. Leon (1799)
- Fleetwood (1805)
- Mandeville (1817)
- History of the Commonwealth (1824–28)
- Cloudesley: A Tale (1830)
- Thoughts on Man, his Nature, Productions, and Discoveries, Interspersed with some particulars respecting the author (1831)
- Deloraine (1833)
- Lives of the Necromancers (1834)
William Godwin Quotes