Proudhon, Pierre Joseph, << `proo` DAWN, pyair zhoh ZEHF >> (1809-1865), was a French socialist, writer, and critic. In 1837, he published his Essay on General Grammar. This work won him a three-year pension from the Academy of Besancon. However, in 1840, Proudhon’s What Is Property? lost him the academy’s approval. The work revealed his socialistic ideas, and stated that “property is theft.” Proudhon objected to the use of property to exploit the labor of others.
Proudhon wrote many other influential works, including System of Economical Contradictions: or, The Philosophy of Misery (1846). His radical ideas and political activities often led to trouble with the French government. As a result, he spent a number of years in prison and in exile. While in prison, he wrote several books. He died on Jan. 19, 1865.
Ideas.
In 1848, Proudhon declared that his main inspirations were the Bible, the British economist Adam Smith, and the German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel. Proudhon was enthusiastic about the ideas of liberty, justice, and equality. His idea of liberty implied the rejection of all authority, except for that in the family. Unlike many other socialist writers, he had little use for the powers of government. He was an anarchist—_that is, a believer in a social order without government (see Anarchism ). Proudhon referred to his beliefs as _mutualism.
Proudhon argued that society should operate by means of contracts. These contracts should be voluntary agreements among free and equal peoples. He believed that contracts would establish a system of mutual rights and duties, which would result in justice.
In some of his works, Proudhon favored cooperation between working people and small proprietors. Such cooperation, he believed, would be more likely to bring about liberty, justice, and equality than would any action by the government.
Proudhon’s work is not always consistent and is sometimes difficult to interpret. For instance, he urged equality, yet he believed in the existence of inferior races and opposed increased political and social rights for women. Proudhon’s views often conflicted with those of other socialists, including the German social philosopher Karl Marx.
Early life.
Proudhon was born in Mouillere, near Besancon, on Jan. 15, 1809. He studied at the College of Besancon. From 1843 to 1847, he worked in a printing plant in Lyon. He moved to Paris in 1848.
See also Socialism (Early socialist ideas) .
