PHILOSOPHER

William Godwin

1756 - 1836

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William Godwin (3 March 1756 – 7 April 1836) was an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, an attack on political institutions, and Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, an early mystery novel which attacks aristocratic privilege. Based on the success of both, Godwin featured prominently in the radical circles of London in the 1790s. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. William Godwin is the 298th most popular philosopher (down from 259th in 2019), the 632nd most popular biography from United Kingdom (down from 419th in 2019) and the 17th most popular British Philosopher.

William Godwin is most famous for his book, "Political Justice," in which he argues that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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Among PHILOSOPHERS

Among philosophers, William Godwin ranks 298 out of 1,267. Before him are Alfred Tarski, Miskawayh, Rudolf Bultmann, Bruno Bauer, Strato of Lampsacus, and Heraclides Ponticus. After him are Wang Yangming, Houston Stewart Chamberlain, Otto Weininger, Guy Debord, Arnaldus de Villa Nova, and Celsus.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1756, William Godwin ranks 4. Before him are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, and Archduke Maximilian Francis of Austria. After him are Maria Theresa of Savoy, Duke Louis of Württemberg, Bernard Germain de Lacépède, Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, Frederick Francis I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Aaron Burr, Jacques-Nicolas Billaud-Varenne, and Louis Henri, Prince of Condé. Among people deceased in 1836, William Godwin ranks 10. Before him are James Madison, Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein, Antoine Laurent de Jussieu, Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, and Marie-Anne Paulze Lavoisier. After him are Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, Anthony of Saxony, Maria Malibran, Maria Cristina of Savoy, Claude-Louis Navier, and Princess Wilhelmine of Baden.

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In United Kingdom

Among people born in United Kingdom, William Godwin ranks 632 out of 8,785. Before him are Daniel Craig (1968), James Parkinson (1755), A. A. Milne (1882), Bernie Ecclestone (1930), G. H. Hardy (1877), and Brook Taylor (1685). After him are Gerald Gardner (1884), Trevor Howard (1913), Daphne du Maurier (1907), Walter Raleigh (1554), Nick Mason (1944), and Angus Young (1955).

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Among PHILOSOPHERS In United Kingdom

Among philosophers born in United Kingdom, William Godwin ranks 17. Before him are John Wycliffe (1324), Duns Scotus (1265), John Venn (1834), Thomas Reid (1710), Pelagius (360), and Thomas Carlyle (1795). After him are Houston Stewart Chamberlain (1855), G. E. Moore (1873), A. S. Neill (1883), J. L. Austin (1911), Anne Conway (1631), and E. H. Carr (1892).

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