Why Not Socialism?

Art Carden. is a very timely book." Cohen begins by describing a camping trip, and juxtaposing two different scenarios: one in which a group of campers share food and supplies on the trip, and gather resources equitably (ie. ""Cohen makes out the case for the moral attractiveness of socialism based on the rather homely example of a camping trip. It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights. It pits class against class. is a very timely book.

In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. Politics Socialism Knowledge Problem Free Markets.

"Characteristically lucid, engaging and gently humorous. The book offers a positive, inspiring, and at times emotional, side of an argument that is typically backed by condescending elitists in addition to being opposed by condescending elitists. . Why Not Socialism? . ""However small the package . So “why not socialism?” Socialism preaches envy and theft and delivers strife and conflict. G. A. Cohen The question that forms the title of this short book is not intended rhetorically. His style of argument is very accessible, and it is certainly a more attractive mode of persuasion than dreary analyses of how capitalism actually works. So, I will do my best to outline his position. "—Hillel Steiner, University of Manchester "Cohen makes out the case for the moral attractiveness of socialism based on the rather homely example of a camping trip. "Why Socialism?" ""Cohen brings his characteristic clarity to his final defence of socialism. Is it even possible? But a vast quantity of preliminary spadework is necessary to excavate the assumptions that keep us from even trying. .

. Why not Socialism? The result of these developments is an oligarchy of private capital the enormous power of which cannot be effectively checked even by a democratically organized political society. This is true since the members of legislative bodies are selected by political parties, largely financed or otherwise influenced by private capitalists who, for all practical purposes, separate the electorate from the legislature. In this concise book, one of the world’s leading political philosophers presents with clarity and wit a compelling moral case for socialism and argues that the obstacles in its way are exaggerated. The book’s brevity—only ninety-two very small pages—and its largely jargonfree writing suggest that it is meant for nonspecialist readers. . by Gerald A. Cohen, is an essay discussing Socialism in a basic and conceptual form. Cohen says things that need to be said, often better than anyone else; and his last book is especially effective as an argument against the obstacles to socialism typically ascribed to human selfishness. . In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union collapsed, the Berlin Wall came down, millions were lifted out of oppression, and the Mises/Hayek critique of socialism was (supposedly) vindicated. It cynically buys off one faction at the expense of another.

Since, under present circumstances, free and unhindered discussion of these problems has come under a powerful taboo, I consider the foundation of this magazine [Private capital tends to become concentrated in few hands, partly because of competition among the capitalists, and partly because technological development and the increasing division of labor encourage the formation of larger units of production at the expense of smaller ones.

The positive argument of his book is impressive, and there is a rather disarming combination of simplicity of presentation and example with a deep intellectual engagement with the issues. The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil.Einstein predicted that under such a capitalist society, political parties and politicians would be corrupted by financial contributions made by owners of large capital amounts,I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a Einstein asserts that a planned economy that adjusts to production would guarantee a livelihood to every member of society: . In this stimulating essay titled "Beautifully written. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. --Hillel Steiner, University of Manchester "Cohen makes out the case for the moral attractiveness of socialism based on the rather homely example of a camping trip. It is very clear that there is an analytically powerful mind at work here. . ""[A] stimulating and thoughtfully argued advocacy of the better world that we need to fight for.

Our ebooks editions are available from these online vendors:Many of our ebooks are available through library electronic resources including these platforms:Is socialism desirable? "—Jonathan Wolff, author of In Why Not Socialism?, G. A. Cohen argues that socialism is intrinsically desirable, and capitalism is intrinsically repugnant.I'm willing to bet most of you here will not be convinced by his argument.

Why Not Socialism? is an article written by Albert Einstein in May 1949 that appeared in the first issue of the socialist journal Monthly Review. Thus, if anyone can defend socialism successfully, perhaps Cohen can in this book. Tiny books are all the rage in publishing nowadays; this is one of the few that punches well above its weight. Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). After seeing the title, "Why Not Socialism," I was immediately drawn to the single rose growing on the cover. The consequence is that the representatives of the people do not in fact sufficiently protect the interests of the underprivileged sections of the population.