Godwin's Political Justice is the founding work of philosophical anarchism. Drawing on the principles of liberty and utility Godwin criticizes government and all forms of secular and religious authority, advocating the free exercise of individual judgement. He raises enduring questions about the nature of our duty to others.

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v. 1-2. Text -- v. 3. Critical introduction and notes.

ENQUIRY CONCERNING POLITICAL JUSTICE. BOOK V. OF LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POWER . CHAP. VIII. • OF LIMITED MONARCHY. Liable to most of the preceding ...

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Le deuxième tome des OEuvres complètes contient, en deux volumes, les deux versions de la traduction que Benjamin Constant a faite de l'ouvrage de William Godwin intitulé Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness, en même temps que le texte anglais intégral. Le lecteur dispose ainsi de l'ensemble du dossier de ce travail important que Constant a mené entre les dernières semaines de 1798 et le début de 1800 en vue d'une publication pour laquelle il (...) avait passé un contrat mais qui ne se fera pas en raison des circonstances. Edité aujourd'hui par les soins de Laura Saggiorato, sous la direction de Lucia Omacini et d'Etienne Hofmann, cet ensemble imposant est d'un intérêt capital, à la fois pour la connaissance de l'évolution de la pensée politique de Constant à une époque où il commence à confronter ses idées aux réalités de la vie quotidienne et pour l'étude de ses méthodes de travail à partir d'un grand texte qu'il traduit, retravaille et commente d'une manière critique. (shrink)

Caleb Williams is a psychological thriller and suspenseful tale of detection and pursuit. It is also a powerful political novel, inspired by the events following the French Revolution. This new edition reprints the original novel of 1794, the grittier, topical text that reflects Godwin's political philosophy.

William Godwin, also known as Edward Baldwin and Theophilus Marcliffe, (1756-1836) was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and one of the first modern proponents of philosophical anarchism. He is most famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and its Influence on Modern Morals and Happiness (1793), an attack on political institutions, and Caleb Williams; or, Things as They Are (...) (1794), which attacks aristocratic privilege, but also is virtually the first mystery novel. He wrote prolifically in the genres of novels, history and demography throughout his life time. With his wife, Mary Jane Clairmont, he wrote children's primers on Biblical and classical history, which he published along with such works as Charles and Mary Lamb's Tales From Shakespeare. He also has had considerable influence on British literature and literary culture. His other works include Memoirs of the Author of 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' (1798), Life of Chaucer (1803), Cloudesley (1830) and Deloraine (1833). (shrink)