Proudhon

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was a 19th-century French thinker known for his ideas on social justice and economics. He famously declared "property is theft," critiquing private ownership that leads to inequality. Proudhon advocated for mutualism—an economic system where individuals and groups exchange goods and services freely, without excessive profit or centralized control. He believed in cooperative relationships and local self-management, emphasizing that workers should control the means of production. His ideas influenced both anarchist and socialist movements, promoting a society based on voluntary cooperation, equality, and shared responsibility.