Character guide

Pierre Joseph Proudhon

major

Also known as Proudhon, Citizen Proudhon, P. J. Proudhon, Pierre - Joseph Proudhon, the jurist Proudhon

Proudhon writes as a man of conviction who thinks only of his idea and his interlocutor, ad rem et ad hominem, and who asks to be judged by his arguments rather than his name. He anticipates history by a few days, calling his proposition the lightning-rod that might shield society from the coming thunderbolt, even as he insists he is no firebrand of sedition. His refusal to be intimidated by universal consent — appealing from the opinion of the human race to its faith — sets the terms for every debate that follows.

Charles Fourier

supporting

Also known as Fourier

Fourier belongs to the circle of philosophers Proudhon questions in turn — spiritualist, materialist, eclectic — before turning to law. His doctrines of association represent one of the rival answers to the property question that Proudhon must clear away to make room for his own. The critique of Fourier matters because it shows that even the most radical reformers of the age left the core institution untouched.

M. Troplong

supporting

Also known as Troplong, Monsieur Troplong

Troplong stands among the legal authorities whose views on property Proudhon debates, treating their doctrines as serious arguments rather than straw men. Where Pothier thinks property, like royalty, exists by divine right, Troplong supplies the civil-law scaffolding that Proudhon must dismantle. His presence in the argument shows how deeply the case for property is woven into jurisprudence, not merely philosophy.

Lamennais

minor

Also known as M. Lamennais

Priest and political writer referenced in discussions of property and justice.

M. Wolowski

supporting

Also known as Wolowski

Wolowski belongs to the class of critics who answer Proudhon's paradox with the sober language of economics, and his objections sharpen the book's central quarrel. He represents the respectable opinion that property is a civil right born of occupation and sanctioned by law, exactly the position Proudhon means to overturn. His pushback forces the reader to weigh the argument rather than simply recoil from the slogan.

Destutt de Tracy

minor

Also known as de Tracy

Philosopher and economist whose ideas on property are examined.

M. Ch. Comte

minor

Also known as Comte, M. Ch

Liberal economist whose work on property is cited.

Say

minor

Also known as Trismegistus Say

Economist referenced in discussions of value and production.

M. Victor Considérant

minor

Also known as M. Considérant

Fourierist leader whose social theories are critiqued.

M. Blanqui

supporting

Also known as Blanqui, M. Blanqui Paris, the audacious M. Blanqui

Blanqui is the addressee of Proudhon's second memoir, which makes him a direct interlocutor rather than a distant authority. As an economist, he embodies the discipline that Proudhon both uses and attacks, and the exchange between them dramatizes the collision of moral outrage with statistical reasoning. His role in the early-middle arc is to keep the argument honest — forcing Proudhon to prove, not merely proclaim, that property is theft.

M. Cousin

minor

Also known as Cousin

Philosopher whose eclectic spiritualism is criticized.

Pothier

minor

Legal scholar whose writings on property law are referenced.

Malthus

minor

Also known as the worthy Malthus

Economist whose population theory is debated.

M. Jobard

minor

Belgian economist and inventor whose ideas on property are discussed.

Napoleon

minor

Historical figure cited in discussions of power and property.

Montesquieu

minor

Political philosopher whose views on law and property are invoked.

Aristotle

minor

Ancient philosopher referenced on justice and property.

Cicero

minor

Roman orator and philosopher cited on natural law.

Carrel

minor

Also known as Armand Carrel

Journalist and political figure cited in the text.

Toullier

minor

Also known as MM . Toullier, MM

French jurist whose civil law commentaries are referenced.

Grotius

minor

Dutch jurist and philosopher of natural law cited.

Sainte-Beuve

minor

Also known as Sainte Beuve

Literary critic and friend of Proudhon mentioned in passing.

Louis Bonaparte

minor

Also known as Bonaparte

Future Napoleon III, criticized as a political figure.

Jesus Christ

minor

Also known as Christ, Jesus

Religious figure cited in moral arguments about property.

St. Simon

minor

Also known as Simon

Utopian socialist whose doctrines are discussed.

Ricardo

minor

Classical economist whose theories of rent are debated.

Fallot

minor

Also known as Gustave Fallot

Friend and correspondent of Proudhon mentioned briefly.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

minor

Also known as Jean Jacques, bonhomme Jacques, Rousseau, J. J. Rousseau, Even J. J. Rousseau⁠—confounding

Philosopher whose social contract theory is critiqued.

Catherine II

minor

Also known as Catharine, Catherine

Russian empress cited in a discussion of despotism.

Plato

minor

Ancient philosopher cited on justice and community.

Adam Smith

minor

Also known as Adam, Smith

Economist whose labor theory of value is discussed.

Babeuf

minor

Also known as Gracchus Babeuf

Revolutionary communist cited in radical property debates.

F. Cuvier

minor

Also known as Cuvier, Frederic Cuvier

Naturalist referenced in a scientific analogy.

King John

minor

Also known as John

English king referenced in a historical example.

M. Louis Blanc

minor

Socialist politician and historian referenced.

M. J. de Gray

minor

Also known as M. J.

Minor figure cited in a legal reference.

Gauthier

minor

Also known as Messrs. Gauthier Bros.

Businessmen referenced in an economic example.

Reid

minor

Scottish philosopher cited on common sense.

Peter

minor

Biblical apostle cited in religious argument.

Lycurgus

minor

Spartan lawgiver cited in discussions of equality.

Achilles

minor

Greek hero referenced in a literary analogy.

Ajax

minor

Greek warrior cited in a classical allusion.

M. Laboulaye

minor

Also known as Laboulaye, M. Laboulaye⁠—an

Jurist and historian whose work on property is cited.

Pinheiro-Ferreira

minor

Also known as poor Pinheiro - Ferreira, Pinheiro

Portuguese jurist whose arguments on property are critiqued.

Solon

minor

Athenian lawgiver referenced in discussions of equality.

Mademoiselle Rachel

minor

Famous actress referenced in a cultural example.

M. Thiers

minor

French statesman and historian referenced in the text.

Pascal

minor

Philosopher and mathematician cited on human nature.

St. Augustine

minor

Church father referenced on justice and property.

Louis XIV

minor

French king cited as an example of absolute power.

M. Arago

minor

Also known as the illustrious Arago

Scientist and politician mentioned in passing.

M. Villemain

minor

Academic and politician referenced briefly.

M. Humann

minor

French finance minister cited in economic discussion.

Catiline

minor

Roman conspirator referenced as a historical example.

Louis Philippe

minor

French king whose reign is criticized.

Caesar

minor

Roman dictator referenced as a historical figure.

J. Droz

minor

Also known as Droz

French economist and historian cited in the text.

James II

minor

Also known as James

English king referenced in a historical analogy.

Cato

minor

Roman statesman cited on moral virtue.

Escobar

minor

Also known as Father Antoine Escobar de Valladolid

Jesuit casuist cited in moral reasoning.

M. Vivien

minor

Also known as Vivien, ↩ M. Vivien

French politician and jurist mentioned briefly.

Galileo

minor

Scientist cited as an example of persecuted genius.

Lamartine

minor

Also known as M. Lamartine, M. de Lamartine

Poet and politician referenced in political context.

Numa

minor

Legendary Roman king cited in legal discussion.

Guizot

minor

Also known as M. Guizot

French historian and statesman criticized in the text.

Moses

minor

Biblical lawgiver cited on property and justice.

Newton

minor

Also known as One Newton

Scientist referenced in a scientific analogy.

M. de Sismondi

minor

Also known as Sismondi

Swiss economist and historian referenced.

Macculloch

minor

Scottish economist cited in economic discussion.

M. Droz

minor

French writer referenced briefly.

Parent Duchâtelet

minor

French physician cited on social statistics.

Jacob

minor

Biblical patriarch referenced in a property analogy.

Menenius Agrippa

minor

Also known as Menenius

Roman consul cited in a political fable.

Antoninus

minor

Roman emperor referenced in legal context.

General de Brossard

minor

Military figure mentioned in a historical example.

M. Louis Raybaud

minor

Also known as M. Raybaud

Writer and journalist referenced in the text.

Bossuet

minor

French bishop and historian cited on divine right.

Homer

minor

Ancient poet referenced in literary examples.