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person1970s-2009

G.A. Cohen

Disciplines:
political philosophy
absurdism/marxism

Summary

Canadian political philosopher who applied the methods of analytic philosophy to Marxism and later developed a stringent egalitarian critique of Rawlsian liberalism.

Core Contribution

Karl Marx's Theory of History: A Defence — using analytic philosophy to defend the materialist conception of history. Critique of Nozick's entitlement theory. Self-Ownership, Freedom, and Equality: critique of libertarianism. Why Not Socialism?: a short defence of egalitarian ethos as a basis for justice. The camping trip argument: camping trips operate on socialist principles — the task is to explain why the whole economy shouldn't.

Key Spikes & Highlights

  • Attacked Rawls's difference principle from the left: Rawls allows inequalities if they benefit the worst off, but Cohen argued this abandons egalitarian ethos — incentive payments are only needed because talented people refuse to work for less.

Notable Works & Achievements

Karl Marx's Theory of History

Self-Ownership, Freedom, and Equality

Rescuing Justice and Equality

Why Not Socialism?

Historical Influences

Karl Marx John Rawls

Intellectual Lineage

Analytical Marxism Egalitarian Political Philosophy

Contemporaries & Peers

John Rawls Robert Nozick

Minds Influenced

Left-Wing Political Philosophy

Intellectual Posterity

Analytical Marxism Egalitarianism

Discussing

G.A. Cohen

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