Godwin’s Enquirer

Malthus said that he had been inspired to write the Essay to refute some of the doctrines (especially those in Part II, Chapter 2) of Godwin’s Enquirer, published in 1797. The Enquirer expands on the topics in the Enquiry. It is critical of market economics, the profit motive, invidious comparison, state education and private property. It argues for social norms and standards. Production, consumption, distribution and exchange should be governed by the true needs of the community as measured by the consensus. Choices should be tested by social science using the empirical method, probability and sense perception. Godwin warns once again against state education but defends a multiplicity of differentiated schools. As in the Enquiry, the Enquirer endorses the consensus and disparages extreme individualism. Pattern maintenance unifies the community. Morality is defined by happiness. It must be group happiness. Freedom to act is not unlimited. In Part II, Chapter 2 (a section of 16 pages, without any mention of population) Godwin discusses the civilising function of relative equality, of sympathy versus self-interest, and of the factor labour which he states once again to be the only input capable of adding value.