Anarchistic/Utopian political and social philosopher - husband of early feminist author Mary Wollestonecraft and father of Mary Shelley (writer of "Frankenstein" and wife of romantic poet Percy Byssche Shelley). A profound optimist concerning human nature, he nonetheless recognized the exploitative nature of capitalism and proposed a utopian restructuring of society whereby those who earn more than their basic needs would distribute the surplus to the needy. In his famous 1793 plea for anarchy, Godwin posited that the pursuit of happiness is the only object of personal and social ethics. In an early utilitarian leap, Godwin actually went on to argue that "Justice" requires the maximization of aggregate pleasure. His optimistic prognostics on the ultimate "perfectibility" of mankind led Malthus to respond with his dismal essay on population.
Major Works of William Godwin
Resources on William Godwin