Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

Date of Birth: January 15, 1809

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: January 19, 1865

Biography

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was a French politician, philosopher, and economist, widely recognized as one of the most influential political thinkers of the 19th century. Born on January 15, 1809, in Besançon, France, Proudhon is best known for his declaration that “property is theft,” which he articulated in his groundbreaking work “What is Property?” (1840). Proudhon’s ideas were foundational to the development of anarchism and socialism, and he is often regarded as the father of anarchist theory. He advocated for a society based on mutualism, where cooperative and voluntary associations replaced the hierarchical structures of capitalism and the state. Throughout his life, Proudhon remained deeply involved in political activism. He was elected to the French Legislative Assembly in 1848 but was later imprisoned for his radical views. Despite his incarceration, he continued to write and influence political thought, producing works such as “The Philosophy of Poverty” (1846) and “The General Idea of the Revolution in the Nineteenth Century” (1851). Proudhon passed away on January 19, 1865, but his legacy lives on through his contributions to anarchism, socialism, and political philosophy.

5 Interesting Facts about Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

1. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was the first person to call himself an “anarchist.”

2. He was a self-taught scholar, learning Latin, Greek, and Hebrew to read classical texts.

3. Proudhon was a printer by trade before he became a prominent economist and philosopher.

4. He had a contentious relationship with Karl Marx, whom he initially befriended but later criticized.

5. Proudhon opposed both capitalism and state socialism, advocating for a society based on mutualism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

1. “Property is theft.”

2. “Liberty is the mother, not the daughter, of order.”

3. “To be governed is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, legislated, regimented, closed in, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, estimated, valued, censured, commanded.”

4. “The great are only great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!”

5. “Justice is, in fact, the essence of humanity.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon did not accumulate significant wealth, as his life was dedicated to political activism and intellectual pursuits rather than financial gain.