But even on its own, the selfownership principle rules out the welfare state. Cohen, selfownership, freedom and equality cambridge, 1995, p. Selfownership, freedom, and equality studies in marxism and social theory g. For the primary commitment of his philosophy is not to liberty but to the thesis of selfownership, which says. Cohens attempt to rescue something of the socialist outlook on society from the challenge of libertarianism, which. Cohen examines the libertarian principle of selfownership, which says that each person belongs to himself and therefore owes no service or product to anyone else. Cohen find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The author argues that selfownership cannot deliver the freedom it promises to secure, thereby undermining the idea that lovers of freedom should embrace capitalism and. Cohen, ga 1986 selfownership, worldownership and equality. Freedom, selfownership, and equality in steiners leftlibertarianism. Selfownership, freedom, and equality studies in marxism and social theory cohen, g. Article information, pdf download for freedom, selfownership, and. Keywords selfownership 4 consequentialism 4 moral psychology 4 disgust.
Cohens book is crammed with intricate, interesting, and often ingenious arguments. Article pdf available in economics and philosophy 2. Combined with a lockean theory of property, we can at once generate the principles of a freemarket order. This principle is used to defend capitalist inequality, which is said to reflect each persons freedom to do as as he wishes with himself. Selfownership, freedom, and equality, by ga cohen mises institute. Selfownership, freedom, and equality studies in marxism and. Selfownership and property in the person social sciences. Pdf on jan 1, 1997, ben fine and others published selfownership, freedom, and equality, g.