Essay #121: Ruby Tuke, ‘The Embryonic Abolitionist Ideas of William Godwin’

About this episode

Ruby Tuke discusses William Godwin's early ideas on punishment and justice as a precursor to modern penal abolitionist thought.

In this essay, Ruby Tuke argues that the political philosopher, author and proto-anarchist William Godwin’s critique of punishment, alongside his commitment to a form of community-rooted justice guided by rational moral judgement, offers a striking yet overlooked antecedent to contemporary penal abolitionist debates. Ruby Tuke is a writer and researcher currently working at the intersection of nineteenth‑century radicalism and contemporary penal abolitionist thought. Her most recent publication is a chapter in Envisioning Abolition, edited by David Gordon Scott and Emma Bell (Bristol University Press, 2025). Anarchist Essays is brought to you by Loughborough University's Anarchism Research Group and the journal Anarchist Studies. Follow us on Bluesky @anarchismresgroup.bsky.social Our music comes from Them'uns (featuring Yous'uns). Artwork by Sam G.

People in this episode

Guest: Ruby Tuke

Topics covered

• political philosophy
• punishment critique
• community justice
• penal abolition
• nineteenth-century radicalism

Keywords

• William Godwin
• Ruby Tuke
• penal abolition
• community justice
• nineteenth-century radicalism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Loughborough University's Anarchism Research Group, Anarchist Studies, Them'uns, Yous'uns

Books & works: Envisioning Abolition

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