Freedom, Equality and Capitalism: Gerald A. Cohen’s Conception of (Negative) Freedom Cover Image

Svoboda, rovnost, a kapitalismus: koncepce (negativní) svobody u Geralda A. Cohena
Freedom, Equality and Capitalism: Gerald A. Cohen’s Conception of (Negative) Freedom

Author(s): Martin Brabec
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics and society
Published by: Univerzita Mateja Bela
Keywords: Gerald A. Cohen;Freedom;Historical materialism;Property;Money;Capitalism

Summary/Abstract: The issue of freedom has been an eternal theme in both political philosophy and the political life of each community. Recently, it has also become a very urgent subject of heated public debates. The article focused on issues of freedom in writing of the key political philosopher at the end of 20th century – Gerald. A. Cohen. His reflections on freedom embody the key knowledge of contemporary political philosophy, but they are not very well known in the Czech and Slovak academic sphere. The goal of the article was to fill up this gap. Methodological approach of the article was conceptual and logical analysis. It was based on explication and interpretation of primary Cohen’s texts as well as texts of other relevant scholars which was supplemented by secondary sources. At the beginning, the article presented Cohen’s thoughts background and his influence on formation of Analytical Marxism. Next it dealt with his conception of historical materialism and role of freedom in it. Then it moves to normative period of Cohen’s thinking. Firstly it presented his conception of proletarian freedom under capitalism. Secondly it examined Cohen’s criticism of Nozick, particularly his idea of free exchange. After that it analyzed Cohen’s criticism of Berlin conception of freedom and its conceptual connection with money. Finally it presented Cohen’s analysis of appropriation of natural resources.

  • Issue Year: 23/2020
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 45-68
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: Czech
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