Romantic Anarche: The Philosophical and Literary Anarchism of William Godwin (original) (raw)

The paper explores the philosophical and literary contributions of William Godwin to anarchist thought, arguing that his conception of anarchy challenges traditional binaries of order and disorder by presenting anarchy as a natural state of humanity. It examines Godwin's redefinitions related to 'archē' and 'an-archic' structures, proposing that true anarchism resists the notion of foundational essences. The analysis incorporates wider philosophical implications and the influence of historical figures, including Milton, emphasizing how Godwin's work reflects an evolving understanding of responsibility and ethics within the framework of anarchism.