Political Justice
Quick Summary
William Godwin's Political Justice (1793) is a foundational work in anarchist thought. Godwin argued that authority is inherently corrupting and that social problems stem from a lack of individual freedom and reason. He envisioned a society composed of small, self-governing communities where decisions are made based on reason and individual conscience, rather than through majority rule or imposed laws. Godwin also criticized "accumulated property" as a source of power over others and proposed an economic system where resources are shared according to need. He believed that technological progress and simple living would eventually reduce the need for labor, facilitating a transition to a stateless society.123
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