An Enquiry concerning Political Justice

By William Godwin

• Book I: Of the Importance of Political Instiutions
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: History of Political Society
  • Chapter 3: The Moral Characters of Men Originate in their Perceptions
  • Chapter 4: Three Principal Causes of Moral Improvement Considered I. Literature II. Education III. Political Justice
  • Chapter 5: Influence of Political Institutions Exemplified
  • Chapter 6: Human Inventions Capable of Perpetual Improvement
  • Chapter 7: Of the Objection to these Principles from the Influence of Climate
  • Chapter 8: Of the Objection to these Principles from the Influence of Luxury
• Book II: Principles of Society
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Of Justice -- Appendix I. Of Suicide Appendix II. Of Duelling
  • Chapter 3: Of Duty
  • Chapter 4: Of the Equality of Mankind
  • Chapter 5: Rights of Man
  • Chapter 6: Of the Exercise of Private Judgment
• Book III: Principles of Government
  • Chapter 1: System of Political Writers
  • Chapter 2: Of the Social Contract
  • Chapter 3: Of Promises
  • Chapter 4: Of Political Authority
  • Chapter 5: Of Legislation
  • Chapter 6: Of Obedience -- Appendix
  • Chapter 7: Of Forms of Government
• Book IV: Miscellaneous Principles
  • Chapter 1: Of Resistance
  • Chapter 2: Of Revolutions
  • Chapter 3: Of Tyrranicide
  • Chapter 4: Of the Cultivation of Truth -- Appendix I. Of the Connections between Understanding and Virtue Appendix II. Of the Mode of Excluding Visitors Appendix III. Subject of Sincerity Resumed
  • Chapter 5: Of Free Will and Necessity
  • Chapter 6: Inferences from the Doctrine of Necessity
  • Chapter 7: Of the Mechanism of the Human Mind
  • Chapter 8: Of the Principle of Virtue
  • Chapter 9: Of the Tendency of Virtue
• Book V: Of Legislative and Executive Power
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 2: Of Education, the Education of a Prince
  • Chapter 3: Private Life of a Prince
  • Chapter 4: Of a Virtuous Despotism
  • Chapter 5: Of Courts and Ministers
  • Chapter 6: Of Subjects
  • Chapter 7: Of Elective Monarchy
  • Chapter 8: Of Limited Monarchy
  • Chapter 9: Of a President with Regal Powers
  • Chapter 10: Of Hereditary Distinction
  • Chapter 11: Moral Effects of Aristocracy
  • Chapter 12: Of Titles
  • Chapter 13: Of the Aristocratical Character
  • Chapter 14: General Features of Democracy
  • Chapter 15: Of Political Imposture
  • Chapter 16: Of the Causes of War
  • Chapter 17: Of the Object of War
  • Chapter 18: Of the Conduct of War
  • Chapter 19: Of Military Establishments and Treaties
  • Chapter 20: Of Democracy as Connected with the Transactions of War
  • Chapter 21: Of the Composition of Government
  • Chapter 22: Of the Future History of Political Societies
  • Chapter 23: Of National Assemblies
  • Chapter 24: Of the Dissolution of Government
• Book VI: Of Opinion Considered as a Subject of Political Institution
  • Chapter 1: General Effects of the Political Superintendence of Opinion
  • Chapter 2: Of Religious Establishments
  • Chapter 3: Of the Suppression of Erroneous Opinion in Religion and Government
  • Chapter 4: Of Tests
  • Chapter 5: Of Oaths
  • Chapter 6: Of Libels
  • Chapter 7: Of Constitutions
  • Chapter 8: Of National Education
  • Chapter 9: Of Pensions and Salaries
  • Chapter 10: Of the Modes of Deciding a Question on the Part of the Community
• Book VII: Of Crimes and Punishments
  • Chapter 1: Limitations of the Doctrine of Punishment which Result from the Principles of Morality
  • Chapter 2: General Disadvantages of Coercion
  • Chapter 3: Of the Purposes of Coercion
  • Chapter 4: Of the Application of Coercion
  • Chapter 5: Of Coercion Considered as a Temporary Expedient
  • Chapter 6: Scale of Coercion
  • Chapter 7: Of Evidence
  • Chapter 8: Of Law
  • Chapter 9: Of Pardons
• Book VIII: Of Property
  • Chapter 1: Genuine System of Property Delineated
  • Chapter 2: Benefits Arising from the Genuine System of Property
  • Chapter 3: Of the Objection to this System from the Admirable Effects of Luxury
  • Chapter 4: Of the Objection to this System from the Allurements of Sloth
  • Chapter 5: Of the Objection to this System from the Impossibility of its Being Rendered Permanent
  • Chapter 6: Of the Objection to this System from the Inflexibility of its Restrictions
  • Chapter 7: Of the Objection to this System from the Principle of Population
  • Chapter 8: Of the Means of Introducing the Genuine System of Property