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Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and Its Influence on Modern Morals and Happiness Paperback – December 9, 1976
- Print length832 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin Classics
- Publication dateDecember 9, 1976
- Dimensions5 x 1.5 x 7.75 inches
- ISBN-100140400303
- ISBN-13978-0140400304
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Product details
- Publisher : Penguin Classics (December 9, 1976)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 832 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0140400303
- ISBN-13 : 978-0140400304
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Dimensions : 5 x 1.5 x 7.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,052,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8,542 in History & Theory of Politics
- #54,904 in Philosophy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Alan Wrightson, author of "Humanity Revealed"
Godwin's view of human nature is wrong. His view of the determinism (the nature around us is determined, so we have to be.) is immature. He mauls the definitions of 'voluntary' and 'involuntary' action beyond recognition. The good part, honestly, was his critique on existing governments. Very astute, unless you consider that Montesquieu made identical observations several years befor Godwin was born. Still, if you've not read or don't want to read Montesquieu, Godwin's is a forcefully stated, action-packed polemic.
His view of a stateless society based on a jejune faith in honesty of all people everywhere is extremely naive and one wonders why Godwin, who doesn't have faith in government or the ruled people (yes, even in democracies) could have faith in peoples capacities for honesty and the self-government that it entails.
Alas, I gave this two stars because of it's originality, it's contributions to anarchism (a movement that produces an adequate thinker from time to time) and most importantly, as an historically interesting contrast to Rousseau and Montesquieu who predated this book and Proudhorn, Goldman and even Marx who followed it.

