An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness

William Godwin's An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793) is a foundational text in anarchist philosophy. Godwin argued that government is inherently corrupting and that social ills stem from a lack of individual freedom to act according to reason. He proposed a society composed of small, self-governing communities where democratic procedures would be minimized to prevent majoritarian tyranny.12

Godwin also criticized "accumulated property" as a source of power and envisioned an economic system based on need. He believed technological advancements and simple living would reduce necessary work, facilitating a transition to a stateless society. His work influenced early Romantic writers and laid groundwork for both communist and anarchist thought, though he did not advocate for the communalization of property.123