Why Not Socialism?

by G. A. Cohen Narrated by John Lescault

Overview

Is socialism desirable? Is it even possible? In this concise audiobook, 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.

There are times, G. A. Cohen notes, when we all behave like socialists. On a camping trip, for example, campers wouldn't dream of charging each other to use a soccer ball or for fish that they happened to catch. Campers do not give merely to get, but relate to each other in a spirit of equality and community. Would such socialist norms be desirable across society as a whole? Why not? Whole societies may differ from camping trips, but it is still attractive when people treat each other with the equal regard that such trips exhibit.

But however desirable it may be, many claim that socialism is impossible. Cohen writes that the biggest obstacle to socialism isn't, as often argued, intractable human selfishness - it's rather the lack of obvious means to harness the human generosity that is there. Lacking those means, we rely on the market. But there are many ways of confining the sway of the market: there are desirable changes that can move us toward a socialist society in which, to quote Albert Einstein, humanity has "overcome and advanced beyond the predatory stage of human development."

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Characteristically lucid, engaging and gently humorous. . . . 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. 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."—-Ellen Meiksins Wood, London Review of Books

"Is socialism really such an alien way of organizing human society? In this stimulating essay titled Why Not Socialism? (just 92 pages long), the late Oxford philosopher G. A. Cohen invites us to think seriously about what socialism has to offer in comparison with capitalism."—-Sanford G. Thatcher, Centre Daily Times

"Beautifully written. . . . In sublimely lucid fashion, Cohen draws up taxonomies of equality, offers ethical objection to capitalism . . . and distinguishes between two questions: is socialism desirable?; and, if desirable, is it feasible? . . . Tiny books are all the rage in publishing nowadays; this is one of the few that punches well above its weight."—-Steven Poole, The Guardian

"[A] stimulating and thoughtfully argued advocacy of the better world that we need to fight for."—-Andrew Stone, Socialist Review

"A quietly urgent book."—-Owen Hatherley, Philosophers' Magazine

"Cohen brings his characteristic clarity to his final defence of socialism."—-Tim Soutphommasane, The Australian

"No doubt the best forms of socialist organization will emerge, like everything else, after much trial and error. But a vast quantity of preliminary spadework is necessary to excavate the assumptions that keep us from even trying. With Why Not Socialism?, Cohen has turned over a few shovelfuls, bringing us a little nearer the end of the immemorial—but surely not everlasting—epoch of greed and fear."—-George Scialabba, Commonweal

"[Here] we have a renowned scholar producing an accessible, concise work addressing a vital topic from a committed, progressive standpoint: would that more of today's academic star scholars would follow this example."—-Frank Cunningham, Socialist Studies

"Why Not Socialism? is a lucid and accessible statement of some of Cohen's deepest preoccupations."—-Alex Callinicos, Radical Philosophy

"However small the package . . . the problems that Cohen addresses in this slim volume are of enormous importance, and can be taken seriously by readers ranging from those with only a tangential interest in the field, to serious scholars of egalitarian and socialist thought."—-Robert C. Robinson, Political Studies Review

Political Studies Review - Robert C. Robinson

However small the package . . . the problems that Cohen addresses in this slim volume are of enormous importance, and can be taken seriously by readers ranging from those with only a tangential interest in the field, to serious scholars of egalitarian and socialist thought.

Radical Philosophy - Alex Callinicos

Why Not Socialism? is a lucid and accessible statement of some of Cohen's deepest preoccupations.

Socialist Studies - Frank Cunningham

[Here] we have a renowned scholar producing an accessible, concise work addressing a vital topic from a committed, progressive standpoint: would that more of today's academic star scholars would follow this example.

Commonweal - George Scialabba

No doubt the best forms of socialist organization will emerge, like everything else, after much trial and error. But a vast quantity of preliminary spadework is necessary to excavate the assumptions that keep us from even trying. With Why Not Socialism?, Cohen has turned over a few shovelfuls, bringing us a little nearer the end of the immemorial—but surely not everlasting—epoch of greed and fear.

The Australian - Tim Soutphommasane

Cohen brings his characteristic clarity to his final defence of socialism.

Philosophers' Magazine - Owen Hatherley

A quietly urgent book.

Socialist Review - Andrew Stone

[A] stimulating and thoughtfully argued advocacy of the better world that we need to fight for.

The Guardian - Steven Poole

Beautifully written. . . . In sublimely lucid fashion, Cohen draws up taxonomies of equality, offers ethical objection to capitalism . . . and distinguishes between two questions: is socialism desirable?; and, if desirable, is it feasible? . . . Tiny books are all the rage in publishing nowadays; this is one of the few that punches well above its weight.

Centre Daily Times - Sanford G. Thatcher

Is socialism really such an alien way of organizing human society? In this stimulating essay titled Why Not Socialism? (just 92 pages long), the late Oxford philosopher G. A. Cohen invites us to think seriously about what socialism has to offer in comparison with capitalism.

London Review of Books - Ellen Meiksins Wood

Characteristically lucid, engaging and gently humorous. . . . 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. 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.

Political Studies Review

However small the package . . . the problems that Cohen addresses in this slim volume are of enormous importance, and can be taken seriously by readers ranging from those with only a tangential interest in the field, to serious scholars of egalitarian and socialist thought.
— Robert C. Robinson

Radical Philosophy

Why Not Socialism? is a lucid and accessible statement of some of Cohen's deepest preoccupations.
— Alex Callinicos

Socialist Studies

[Here] we have a renowned scholar producing an accessible, concise work addressing a vital topic from a committed, progressive standpoint: would that more of today's academic star scholars would follow this example.
— Frank Cunningham

Commonweal

No doubt the best forms of socialist organization will emerge, like everything else, after much trial and error. But a vast quantity of preliminary spadework is necessary to excavate the assumptions that keep us from even trying. With Why Not Socialism?, Cohen has turned over a few shovelfuls, bringing us a little nearer the end of the immemorial—but surely not everlasting—epoch of greed and fear.
— George Scialabba

The Australian

Cohen brings his characteristic clarity to his final defence of socialism.
— Tim Soutphommasane

Philosophers' Magazine

A quietly urgent book.
— Owen Hatherley

Socialist Review

[A] stimulating and thoughtfully argued advocacy of the better world that we need to fight for.
— Andrew Stone

The Guardian

Beautifully written. . . . In sublimely lucid fashion, Cohen draws up taxonomies of equality, offers ethical objection to capitalism . . . and distinguishes between two questions: is socialism desirable?; and, if desirable, is it feasible? . . . Tiny books are all the rage in publishing nowadays; this is one of the few that punches well above its weight.
— Steven Poole

Centre Daily Times

Is socialism really such an alien way of organizing human society? In this stimulating essay titled Why Not Socialism? (just 92 pages long), the late Oxford philosopher G. A. Cohen invites us to think seriously about what socialism has to offer in comparison with capitalism.
— Sanford G. Thatcher

London Review of Books

Characteristically lucid, engaging and gently humorous. . . . 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. 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.
— Ellen Meiksins Wood

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170990467
Publisher:	University Press Audiobooks
Publication date:	07/15/2010
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos