An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'To a rational being there can be but one rule of conduct, justice, and one mode of ascertaining that rule, the exercise of his understanding.' Godwin's Political Justice is the founding text of philosophical anarchism. Written in the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution, it exemplifies the political optimism felt by many writers and intellectuals. Godwin drew on enlightenment ideas and his background in religious dissent for the principles of justice, utility, and the sanctity of individual judgement that drove his powerful critique of all forms of secular and religious authority. He predicts the triumph of justice and equality over injustice, and of mind over matter, and the eventual vanquishing of human frailty and mortality. He also foresees the gradual elimination of practices governing property, punishment, law, and marriage and the displacement of politics by an expanded personal morality resulting from reasoned argument and candid discussion. Political Justice raises deep philosophical questions about the nature of our duty to others that remain central to modern debates on ethics and politics. This edition reprints the first-edition text of 1793, and examines Godwin's evolving philosophy in the context of his life and work. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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able action advantage already appear argument attention authority become believe benefit Book called cause certain CHAPTER character circumstances concerns conduct consequence consideration considered consists constitution desire direct distinction duty effects employed enquiry equal error established evidence evil example exercise existence expected favour feel force Godwin happiness human idea imagine importance impressions improvement individual influence injustice instance institution intellectual interest judgment justice king lead less mankind manner means ment mind mode monarchy moral motives nature necessary necessity neighbour never object obliged observed operation opinion particular perceive perhaps perpetually persons political possess possible practice present principle produce progress punishment question reason reflection render respect result seems sense sentiments society species success sufficiently suppose thing thought tion true truth understanding universe vice virtue whole