Customer Reviews

The Anarchist Writings Of William Godwin

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Godwin was writing more than two hundred years ago, and yet when you read his writings in this book his 'philosophy' was certainly not anarchistic as we would understand it, it WAS revolutionary and probably disturbed a lot of people. But I see his beliefs to be the person-centred concepts that people such as Carl Rogers expressed a hundred and fifty years later. As as example:

"All education is despotism. It is perhaps impossible for the young to be conducted without introducing in many cases the tyranny of implicit obedience. Go there; do that; read; write; rise; lie down; will perhaps for ever be the language addressed to youth by age."

This book is short and sweet. You can probably read it in a couple of hours. But some of the concepts touched upon are really deep and they will leave you thinking for days. I especially loved the sections on authority and government, which are still relevant today. Godwin is more of a pacifist- so don't expect too much anarchism per se. It's more of a libertarian text that advocates non-violent resistance.