William Godwin (and his diary) [ Philosophy / Politics / Political & Moral philosophy / Feelings & Emotions / Diaries & Letters ]
… raises questions about how he reconciled his extensive sociability with his critique of social conventions, manners and fashion. Recognizing this tension should encourage us to see that the appearance of extensive sociability in his Diary … profoundly influenced by Rousseau , was a disdain for the false manners and decorum of ‘society’ and the world of fashion. From this perspective, it seems puzzling that he should seem to be so heavily committed to the rounds of … their demandingness and because they sought to set aside convention and customary practice and to ignore the niceties of fashion and social form in favour of reason and discussion in a time when politics became more invasive in its attention …
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