William Godwin - Revision history

William Langland: /* Life */

2010-01-26T13:13:04Z

Life

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:13, 26 January 2010
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	William Godwin was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 3 March 1756, as the seventh of thirteen children of [[John Godwin]], a dissenting minister, and [[Anne Godwin]], daughter of ship owner [[Richard Hull]]. For most of William's youth, the family lived in Guestwick, near Norwich, Norfolk. As a young boy, he already was a religious enthusiast and dissenter, preaching to his fellow school children. From 1767-1770, he was educated by [[Samuel Newton]], who was strongly influenced by the teachings of hyper Calvinist [[Robert Sandeman]].		William Godwin was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 3 March 1756, as the seventh of thirteen children of [[John Godwin]], a dissenting minister, and [[Anne Godwin]], daughter of ship owner [[Richard Hull]]. For most of William's youth, the family lived in Guestwick, near Norwich, Norfolk. As a young boy, he already was a religious enthusiast and dissenter, preaching to his fellow school children. From 1767-1770, he was educated by [[Samuel Newton]], who was strongly influenced by the teachings of hyper Calvinist [[Robert Sandeman]].

	As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach]] and [[Claude Adrien Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. ~~And~~ the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.		As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach]] and [[Claude Adrien Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. At the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.

	In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political Herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following year and was also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.		In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political Herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following year and was also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.

Pankratz at 15:54, 25 January 2010

2010-01-25T15:54:45Z

William Langland: /* Life */

2010-01-23T14:38:37Z

Life

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 23 January 2010
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	William Godwin was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 3 March 1756, as the seventh of thirteen children of [[John Godwin]], a dissenting minister, and [[Anne Godwin]], daughter of ship owner [[Richard Hull]]. For most of William's youth, the family lived in Guestwick, near Norwich, Norfolk. As a young boy, he already was a religious enthusiast and dissenter, preaching to his fellow school children. From 1767-1770, he was educated by [[Samuel Newton]], who was strongly influenced by the teachings of hyper Calvinist [[Robert Sandeman]].		William Godwin was born in Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire, on 3 March 1756, as the seventh of thirteen children of [[John Godwin]], a dissenting minister, and [[Anne Godwin]], daughter of ship owner [[Richard Hull]]. For most of William's youth, the family lived in Guestwick, near Norwich, Norfolk. As a young boy, he already was a religious enthusiast and dissenter, preaching to his fellow school children. From 1767-1770, he was educated by [[Samuel Newton]], who was strongly influenced by the teachings of hyper Calvinist [[Robert Sandeman]].

	As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Holbach]] and [[Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.		As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach]] and [[Claude Adrien Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.

	In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.		In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.

William Langland: /* Works */

2010-01-23T14:34:06Z

Works

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 23 January 2010
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	1800 ''[[Antonio]]'' (play)		1800 ''[[Antonio]]'' (play)

	1804 ''[[Life Of Geoffrey Chaucer, The Early English Poet]]'' (biography)		1804 ''[[Life Of Geoffrey Chaucer, The Early English Poet]]'' (biography, 4 vols.)

	1805 ''[[Fleetwood. or The New Man of Feeling]]'' (novel, 3 vols.)		1805 ''[[Fleetwood. or The New Man of Feeling]]'' (novel, 3 vols.)

William Langland: /* Works */

2010-01-23T14:33:22Z

Works

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 23 January 2010
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	1783 ''[[History of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham]]'' (novel)		1783 ''[[History of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham]]'' (novel)

	1784 ''[[Imogen. A Pastoral Romance From the Ancient British]]'' (novel]		1784 ''[[Imogen. A Pastoral Romance From the Ancient British]]'' (novel)

	1793 ''[[An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' (political philosophical treatise, 2 vols.)		1793 ''[[An Enquiry concerning Political Justice, and its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' (political philosophical treatise, 2 vols.)
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	1800 ''[[Antonio]]'' (play)		1800 ''[[Antonio]]'' (play)

			1804 ''[[Life Of Geoffrey Chaucer, The Early English Poet]]'' (biography)

	1805 ''[[Fleetwood. or The New Man of Feeling]]'' (novel, 3 vols.)		1805 ''[[Fleetwood. or The New Man of Feeling]]'' (novel, 3 vols.)

William Langland: /* Fictional Writings */

2010-01-23T14:31:54Z

Fictional Writings

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 Since man is not determined to anything at birth, he is perfectible. Godwin is positive that there can and will be a society without any government one day, where "[e]very man will seek, with ineffable ardour, the good of all" (''An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'', Book VIII, Chapter ix, Appendix). Gowdin believed that all that was needed to show man what is good and to make him pursue it was the power of truth and man's capacity to acknowledge it, i. e. reason.
-== Fictional Writings ==
+== Works ==
 == Works Cited ==

William Langland: /* Political Ideas */

2010-01-23T14:16:50Z

Political Ideas

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 23 January 2010
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	== Political Ideas ==		== Political Ideas ==

			Godwin is usually regarded as one of the earliest thinkers of [[Utilitarianism]], but also as a proponent of [[Anarchism]].

			His political thining is based on the premise that humans are born without any inclination towards the good or the bad. It is only the influence of society that makes them turn to either side. Godwin even goes so far as to propose that human actions are not the result of free will, but of the perceptions and experiences each individual has throughout his life. Since there are constantly new perceptions, everybody keeps changing and, thus, cannot be expected to make promises and contracts in one situation that are also valid later, under different circumstances.

			Government, to Godwin, is at best a necessary evil. It can have only two legitimate purposes: to save the members of a community from suppression and to save the community itself from attacks from outside. In general, governments and nations are only there to serve the individuals, not vice versa.

			Since man is not determined to anything at birth, he is perfectible. Godwin is positive that there can and will be a society without any government one day, where "[e]very man will seek, with ineffable ardour, the good of all" (''An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'', Book VIII, Chapter ix, Appendix). Gowdin believed that all that was needed to show man what is good and to make him pursue it was the power of truth and man's capacity to acknowledge it, i. e. reason.

	== Fictional Writings ==		== Fictional Writings ==

William Langland: /* Works Cited */

2010-01-23T13:47:43Z

Works Cited

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 23 January 2010
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	== Works Cited ==		== Works Cited ==

			Smith, Elton E./Smith, Esther G. ''William Godwin''. New York: Twayne, 1965.

			http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/godwin/

William Langland: /* Life */

2010-01-23T13:45:23Z

Life

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 23 January 2010
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	In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.		In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.

			In 1797, Godwin married philosopher [[Mary Wollstonecraft]], who then died shortly after giving birth to their daughter Mary (later [[Mary Shelley]]). He reacted to this tragedy by throwing himself into work. One of the results was ''[[Memoirs of the Author of the Vindication of the Rights of Women]]'', another his Gothic novel ''[[St. Leon]]'' (1799).

			While his early success had been supported by the general enthusiasm about the French Revolution, the public and political climate now became increasingly hostile to Godwin. Consequently, he turned to literature and history, with little success. In 1801, he married [[Mary Jane Clairmont]].

			In 1805, friends helped Godwin to put up a children's book store, which he ran for ten years, meanwhile writing children's literature mainly under the pseudonym ''Edward Baldwin''.

			For most of his later life, Godwin fought against poverty and furthermore had to face a number personal crises, beginning with the elopement of his daughter Mary with [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]] to France in 1814. Still, he remained very productive.

			William Godwin died on 7 April 1836.

	== Political Ideas ==		== Political Ideas ==

William Langland: /* Life */

2010-01-23T13:22:16Z

Life

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:22, 23 January 2010
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	As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Holbach]] and [[Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.		As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Holbach]] and [[Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.

	In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''.		In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.

	== Political Ideas ==		== Political Ideas ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:54, 25 January 2010
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	As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach]] and [[Claude Adrien Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.		As a consequence, William was rejected when he tried to enter Homerton Academy on suspicion of Sandemanianism. He then went to the more tolerant Hoxton Academy, where he studied for five years. Afterwards, he worked as a dissenting minister in Ware, London and Stowmarket, Suffolk. During this time, he read works of [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], [[Paul Henri Thiry d'Holbach]] and [[Claude Adrien Helvetius]], which caused his faith to be strongly shaken. A dispute with his congregation followed, and William Godwin moved to London to become a professional writer in 1782. And the end of this year, however, he returned to his former profession, serving at Beaconsfield, but returned to London and writing after seven months.

	In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political ~~herald~~]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following and also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.		In 1783, Godwin's first novel ''The history of the Life of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham'' was published, followed by three other novels, two pamphlets, a work on education and some critical reviews. All of this, however, hardly earned him any money. His situation only changed when [[Andrew Kippis]] asked him to write the British and Foreign History section for the ''[[New Annual Register]]''. In 1785, he also contributed to the Whig journal ''[[Political Herald]]''. These articles were to remain his only publications during the years to come. Nevertheless, Godwin managed to persuade his publisher [[George Robinson]] to advance some money to enable him to write a political document in 1791. This work was published as ''[[An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness]]'' in two volumes in 1793. It was an immediate success, although many of the views it put forward were regarded as radical and shocking. His most successful novel ''[[Things as they are, or The adventures of Caleb Williams]]'' was published the following year and was also informed by Godwin's theoretical ideas.

	In 1797, Godwin married philosopher [[Mary Wollstonecraft]], who then died shortly after giving birth to their daughter Mary (later [[Mary Shelley]]). He reacted to this tragedy by throwing himself into work. One of the results was ''[[Memoirs of the Author of the Vindication of the Rights of Women]]'', another his Gothic novel ''[[St. Leon]]'' (1799).		In 1797, Godwin married philosopher [[Mary Wollstonecraft]], who then died shortly after giving birth to their daughter Mary (later [[Mary Shelley]]). He reacted to this tragedy by throwing himself into work. One of the results was ''[[Memoirs of the Author of the Vindication of the Rights of Women]]'', another his Gothic novel ''[[St. Leon]]'' (1799).
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	While his early success had been supported by the general enthusiasm about the French Revolution, the public and political climate now became increasingly hostile to Godwin. Consequently, he turned to literature and history, with little success. In 1801, he married [[Mary Jane Clairmont]].		While his early success had been supported by the general enthusiasm about the French Revolution, the public and political climate now became increasingly hostile to Godwin. Consequently, he turned to literature and history, with little success. In 1801, he married [[Mary Jane Clairmont]].

	In 1805, friends helped Godwin to put up a children's book store, which he ran for ten years, meanwhile writing children's literature mainly under the pseudonym ''Edward Baldwin''.		In 1805, friends helped Godwin to put up a children's book store, which he ran for ten years, meanwhile writing children's literature mainly under the pseudonym Edward Baldwin.

	For most of his later life, Godwin fought against poverty and furthermore had to face a number personal crises, beginning with the elopement of his daughter Mary with [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]] to France in 1814. Still, he remained very productive.		For most of his later life, Godwin fought against poverty and furthermore had to face a number personal crises, beginning with the elopement of his daughter Mary with [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]] to France in 1814. Still, he remained very productive.
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	Godwin is usually regarded as one of the earliest thinkers of [[Utilitarianism]], but also as a proponent of [[Anarchism]].		Godwin is usually regarded as one of the earliest thinkers of [[Utilitarianism]], but also as a proponent of [[Anarchism]].

	His political ~~thining~~ is based on the premise that humans are born without any inclination towards the good or the bad. It is only the influence of society that makes them turn to either side. Godwin even goes so far as to propose that human actions are not the result of free will, but of the perceptions and experiences each individual has throughout his life. Since there are constantly new perceptions, everybody keeps changing and, thus, cannot be expected to make promises and contracts in one situation that are also valid later, under different circumstances.		His political thinking is based on the premise that humans are born without any inclination towards the good or the bad. It is only the influence of society that makes them turn to either side. Godwin even goes so far as to propose that human actions are not the result of free will, but of the perceptions and experiences each individual has throughout his or her life. Since there are constantly new perceptions, everybody keeps changing and, thus, cannot be expected to make promises and contracts in one situation that are also valid later, under different circumstances.

	Government, to Godwin, is at best a necessary evil. It can have only two legitimate purposes: to save the members of a community from suppression and to save the community itself from attacks from outside. In general, governments and nations are only there to serve the individuals, not vice versa.		Government, to Godwin, is at best a necessary evil. It can have only two legitimate purposes: to save the members of a community from suppression and to save the community itself from attacks from outside. In general, governments and nations are only there to serve the individuals, not vice versa.

	Since man is not determined to anything at birth, he is perfectible. Godwin is positive that there can and will be a society without any government one day, where "[e]very man will seek, with ineffable ardour, the good of all" (''An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'', Book VIII, Chapter ix, Appendix). ~~Gowdin~~ believed that all that was needed to show man what is good and to make him pursue it was the power of truth and man's capacity to acknowledge it, i. e. reason.		Since man is not determined to anything at birth, he is perfectible. Godwin is positive that there can and will be a society without any government one day, where "[e]very man will seek, with ineffable ardour, the good of all" (''An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice'', Book VIII, Chapter ix, Appendix). Godwin believed that all that was needed to show man what is good and to make him pursue it was the power of truth and man's capacity to acknowledge it, i. e. reason.

	== Works ==		== Works ==