Upload
michael-millner
View
232
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
1/19
G . A . C O H E N
R O B E R T N O Z I C K A N D W I L T C H A M B E R L A I N : H O W
P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
L e t u s n o w s u p p o s e t h a t I h a v e s o l d th e p r o d u c t o f m y o w n l a b o u r f o r m o n e y , a n d h a v e u s e d
t h e m o n e y t o h i re a l a b o u r e r , i .e ., I h a v e b o u g h t s o m e b o d y e l s e s l a b o u r - p o w e r . H a v i n g
t a k e n a d v a n t a g e o f th i s l a b o u r - p o w e r o f a n o t h e r , I tu r n o u t t o b e t h e o w n e r o f v al u e w h i c h is
c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r t h a n t h e v a l u e I s p e n t o n i t s p u r c h a s e . T h i s , from one point of v iew is
v e r y j u s t , b e c a u s e i t h a s a l r e a d y b e e~ , r e c o g n i z e d , a f t e r a l l, t h a t I c a n u s e w h a t I h a v e s e c u r e d
b y e x c h a n g e a s is b e s t a n d m o s t a d v a n t a g e o u s t o m y s e l f . . . 1
P e r s o n s , w h o u n d e r a v i ci o u s o r d e r o f th i n g s h a v e o b t a i n e d a c o m p e t e n t s h a r e o f so c ia l
e n j o y m e n t s , a r e n e v e r i n w a n t o f a r g u m e n t s t o j u s t if y to t h e e y e o f r e a s o n s u c h a s t at e o f
s o c ie t y ; f o r w h a t m a y n o t a d m i t o f a p o l o g y w h e n e x h i b i t e d in b u t one point of view? I f t h e
s a m e i n d iv i d u al s w e r e t o m o r r o w r e q u i r e d t o c a s t a n e w t h e l o t s as s i g n in g t h e m a p l ac e i n
s o c ie t y , t h e y w o u l d f in d m a n y t h i n g s t o o b j e c t t o 9
R o b e r t N o z i c k o c c u p i e s th e p o i n t o f v ie w P l e k h a n o v d e s c ri b e s, a n d h is
An arch y S ta te an d Utopia is i n l a r g e m e a s u r e a n i n g e n i o u s e l a b o r a t i o n o f
t h e a r g u m e n t f o r c a p i t a l i s m P l e k h a n o v a d u m b r a t e s . T h e c a p i t a l i s m
N o z i c k a d v o c a t e s i s m o r e p u r e t h a n t h e o n e w e k n o w t o d a y . I t l a c k s
t a x a t i o n f o r s o c i a l w e l f a r e , a n d i t p e r m i t s d e g r e e s o f i n e q u a l i t y f a r g r e a t e r
t h a n m o s t a p o l og i s ts fo r c o n t e m p o r a r y b o u r g e o i s s o c i e t y w o u l d n o w
c o u n t e n a n c e .
T h i s p a p e r is o n l y i n d i re c t l y a c r i ti q u e o f N o z i c k s d e f e n s e o f c a p i t a l-
i sm . 3 I t s i m m e d i a t e a i m is to r e f u t e N o z i c k s m a j o r a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t a
r iva l o f cap i t a l i sm, soc ia l i sm. The r e fu ta t ion v ind ica tes soc ia l i sm aga ins t
t h a t a r g u m e n t , b u t n o o n e o p p o s e d t o so c ia li sm o n o t h e r g r o u n d s s h o u l d
e x p e c t t o b e c o n v e r t e d b y th is p a p e r .
N o z i c k s c a s e a g a in s t s o c ia l is m c a n b e t a k e n i n t w o w a y s . H e p r o p o s e s a
d e f i n it i o n o f j u s t ic e i n t e r m s o f li b e r t y , a n d o n t h a t b a s i s h e a r g u e s t h a t
w ha t soc ia l is t s 4 con s ide r ju s t is no t in f ac t ju s t . B u t e ve n i f h i s de f in i t ion o f
jus t i ce i s wro ng , so tha t the bas i s o f h is c r i t ique , t ak en in th is f i rs t wa y , is
f a u l ty , h e s till h a s a c l a im a g a i n s t so c i a li s m , n a m e l y t h a t h o w e v e r / u s t i t
m a y b e i t i s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h liberty. E v e n i f N o z i c k is m i s t a k e n a b o u t
wha t ju s t i ce i s , he migh t s t i l l be r igh t tha t the cos t in lo s s o f l ibe r ty
i m p o s e d b y w h a t s o c i a l is t s r e g a r d a s j u s t is i n t o l e r a b l y h i g h . ( H e n c e t h e
Erkenntnis 1 1 ( 1 9 7 7 ) 5 - 2 3 . A ll R ights Reserved
Copyright @ 1 9 7 7 by D. Re idel Publishing Company Dordrecht-Holland
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
2/19
G . A . C O H E N
t i t l e o f t h e s e c t i o n o f t h e b o o k o n w h i c h w e s h a l l f o c u s : ' H o w L i b e r t y
U p s e t s P a t t e r n s ' -p a t t e r n s b e i n g d i s t r ib u t i o n s a n s w e r i n g t o , fo r e x a m p l e ,
a so c i a l i st p r i n c i p le o f ju s t i c e ) . S o i t i s n o t e n o u g h , i n d e f e n d i n g s o c i a l i s m
a g a i n st N o z i c k , t o p r o v e t h a t h e h a s n o t s h o w n i t i s u n ju s t 9 I t m u s t a l s o b e
p r o v e d t h a t h e h a s n o t s h o w n t h a t it is o p p o s e d t o l ib e r ty .
A f u l l d e f i n i t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i s n o t r e q u i r e d f o r o u r p u r p o s e s . A l l w e
n e e d s u p p o s e i s t h a t a s o c ia l is t s o c i e t y u p h o l d s s o m e p r i n ci p le o f e q u a l i ty
i n th e d i s t r ib u t i o n o f b e n e f i ts e n j o y e d a n d b u r d e n s b o r n e b y i ts m e m b e r s .
T h e p r i n c ip l e n e e d n o t b e s p e c if ie d f u r t h er , fo r N o z i c k ' s a r g u m e n t is
a g a i n s t t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f
n y
s u c h p r i n ci p le 9 L e t u s n o w i m a g i n e t h a t s u c h
a n eg a l i t a r ia n p r in c ip l e i s in s t i t u t ed , a n d t h a t i t l ea d s t o a d i s t r ib u t io n o f
g o o d s a n d b a d s w h i c h , fo l l o w i n g N o z i c k , w e c all D 1 . T h e n N o z i c k
r e a s o n s b y e x a m p l e t h a t D 1 c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d o n l y a t t h e p r ic e o f
t y r a n n y a n d i n ju s t ic e . T h e e x a m p l e c o n c e r n s t h e b e s t b a s k e tb a l l p l a y e r in
t h e i m a g i n e d s o c i e t y : 5
9
s u p p o s e t h a t W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n is g r e at ly i n d e m a n d b y b a s k e t b a l l t e am s , b e i n g a g r e a t
g a t e a t t r a c t i o n . . . H e s ig n s t h e f o l lo w i n g s o r t o f c o n t r a c t w i t h a te a m : I n e a c h h o m e g a m e ,
t w e n t y -f i ve c e n t s fr o m t h e p r i ce o f e a c h t i c k e t o f a d m i s s io n g o e s t o h i m . . . T h e s e a s o n
s t a r t s , a n d p e o p l e c h e e r f u l l y a t t e n d h i s t e a m ' s g a m e s ; t h e y b u y t h e i r t i c k e t s , e a c h t i m e
d r o p p i n g a s e p a r a t e t w e n t y - f i v e c e n t s o f t h e i r a d m i s s i o n p r i c e i n t o a s p e c i a l b o x w i t h
C h a m b e r l a i n ' s n a m e o n i t. T h e y a r e e x c i t ed a b o u t s e e i n g h i m p l a y ; it is w o r t h t h e t o t a l
a d m i s s i o n p r i c e t o t h e m . L e t u s s u p p o s e t h a t i n o n e s e a s o n o n e m i l li o n p e r s o n s a t t e n d h i s
h o m e g a m e s , a n d W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n w i n d s u p w i th 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 , a m u c h l a r g e r s u m t h a n t h e
a v e r a g e i n c o m e . . . I s h e e n t i t l e d t o t h is i n c o m e ? I s t h is n e w d i s t r ib u t i o n , D 2 , u n j u s t ? I f s o ,
w h y ? T h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n a b o u t w h e t h e r e a c h o f t h e p e o p l e W a s e n t i tl e d t o t h e c o n t r o l o v e r
t h e r e s o u r c e s t h e y h e l d i n D 1 ; b e c a u s e t h a t w a s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n . . , t h a t ( f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f
a r g u m e n t ) w e a s s u m e d w a s a c c e p t a b l e . E a c h o f t h e s e p e r s o n s chose t o g i v e t wen t y - f i v e
c e n t s o f th e i r m o n e y t o C h a m b e r l a i n . T h e y c o u l d h a v e s p e n t i t o n g o i n g to t h e m o v i es , o r o n
c a n d y b a r s , o r o n c o p i e s o f
D i s s e n t
m a g a z i n e , o r o f
M o n t h l y R e v ie w
B u t t h e y a l l, a t l e a s t o n e
m i l li o n o f t h e m , c o n v e r g e d o n g i v in g it t o W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n i n e x c h a n g e f o r w a t c h in g h i m
p l a y b a s k e t b a l l . I f D 1 w a s a j u s t d i s tr i b u t i o n , a n d p e o p l e v o l u n t a r i l y m o v e d f r o m i t to D 2 ,
t r a n s f e r r i n g p a r t s o f t h e i r s h a r e s t h e y w e r e g i v e n u n d e r D 1 ( w h a t w a s i t f o r i f n o t t o d o
s o m e t h i n g w i t h ? ) , i s n ' t D 2 a l s o j u s t ? I f t h e p e o p l e w e r e e n t i t l e d t o d i s p o s e o f th e r e s o u r c e s
t o w h i c h t h e y w e r e e n t i t l e d ( u n d e r D 1 ) , d i d n ' t t h i s i n c l u d e t h e i r b e i n g e n t i t l e d t o g i v e i t t o , o r
e x c h a n g e i t w i t h , W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n ? C a n a n y o n e e l s e c o m p l a i n o n g r o u n d s o f ju s t ic e ? E a c h
o t h e r p e r s o n a l r e a d y h a s h i s l e g i t i m a t e s h a r e u n d e r D 1 . U n d e r D 1 , t h e r e i s n o t h i n g
t h a t a n y o n e h a s t h a t a n y o n e e l s e h a s a c l a i m o f j u s t i c e a g a i n s t . A f t e r s o m e o n e
t r a n s f er s s o m e t h i n g t o W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n , t h i r d p a r ti e s st i l l h a v e t h e i r l e g i t i m a t e s h a r e s ;
the ir s h a r e s a r e n o t c h a n g e d . B y w h a t p r o c e s s c o u l d s u c h a t r a n s f e r a m o n g t w o p e r s o n s
g i v e ri s e t o a l e g i t i m a t e c l a i m o f d i s t r ib u t i v e ju s t i c e o n a p o r t i o n o f w h a t w a s t r a n s f e r r e d ,
b y a t h i r d p a r t y w h o h a d n o c l a i m o f j u s t i c e o n a n y h o l d i n g o f t h e o t h e r s before t h e
t r a n s f e r ?
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
3/19
H O W P T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
A c c o r d i n g t o N o z i c k
(1) W ha tev er a r i s es f rom a ju s t s i tua t ion by ju s t s t eps is i t s e l f ju s t .
(p. 151)
S t e p s a r e j u s t i f t h e y a r e f r e e o f i n ju s t ic e , a n d t h e y a r e f r e e o f i n j u s ti c e i f
t h e y a r e f u l l y v o l u n t a r y o n t h e p a r t o f all le g i t i m a t e l y c o n c e r n e d p e r s o n s .
H e n c e
(2) W ha tev er a r i s es f rom a ju s t s i tua t ion as a r e su l t o f fu l ly
v o l u n t a r y t r a n s a c t i o n s o n t h e p a r t o f a l l l e g i t i m a t e l y c o n -
ce rned pe r sons i s i t s e l f ju s t .
S o c o n v i n c e d is N o z i c k t h a t ( 2 ) is t r u e t h a t h e t h i n k s i t m u s t b e a c c e p t e d
b y p e o p l e a t t a c h e d t o a d o c t r i n e o f j u s t i c e w h i c h i n o t h e r r e s p e c t s d i ff e rs
f r o m h is o w n . T h a t i s w h y h e f e e l s a b l e t o e m p l o y (2 ) i n t h e C h a m b e r l a i n
p a r a b l e , d e s p i t e h a v i n g g r a n t e d , f o r t h e s a k e o f a r g u m e n t , t h e j u s t i c e o f
a n i n it ia l s i t u a t io n p a t t e r n e d b y a n e g a l i ta r i a n p r i n c ip l e . 6
E v e n i f (2 ) is t r u e , i t d o e s n o t f o l l o w t h a t p a t t e r n D 1 c a n b e m a i n t a i n e d
o n l y a t t h e p r i c e o f i n j u s t i c e , f o r p e o p l e m i g h t s i m p l y f i l t o u s e t h e i r
l i b e r t y i n a p a t t e r n - s u b v e r t i n g m a n n e r . B u t t h a t i s n o t a n i n t e r e s t i n g
p o s s ib i l it y . A m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g o n e is t h a t t h e y d e l i b e r a t e l y
re fuse
t o u s e
t h e i r l i b e r t y s u b v e r s i v e l y . R e a s o n s f o r r e f u s in g w ill b e a d d u c e d s h o r tl y .
B u t is (2 ) tr u e ? D o e s l i b e r t y a lw a y s p r e s e r v e j u s t i c e ?
A s t a n d a r d w a y o f t e st in g t h e c la im w o u l d b e t o l o o k f o r s t a t e s o f a ff ai rs
w h i c h w o u l d b e a c c o u n t e d u n j u s t b u t w h i c h m i g h t b e g e n e r a t e d b y t h e
r o u t e (2 ) a p p r o v e s . P e r h a p s t h e s t r o n g e s t c o u n t e r e x a m p l e o f t hi s f o r m
w o u l d b e s l a v e r y . W e t h e n s a y : v o l u n t a r y s e l f - e n s l a v e m e n t i s p o s s i b l e ,
s l a v e r y is u n j u s t , t h e r e f o r e ( 2) i s f a ls e . B u t w h a t e v e r m a y b e t h e m e r i t s o f
t h a t a r g u m e n t , w e k n o w t h a t N o z i c k is n o t m o v e d b y it. F o r h e t h i n k s
t h e r e i s n o i n j u s t i c e i n s l a v e r y t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t a r i s e s o u t o f t h e
a p p r o v e d p r o c e s se s .
T h o u g h N o z i c k c o n s i s t e n tl y e n d o r s e s s l a v e ry o f a p p r o p r i a t e g e n e si s,
the re i s a r e s tr i c t ion , de r ived f rom (2) it s el f , on the k ind o f s l ave ry he
a c c e p t s . ( 2) d o e s n o t a l l o w s l a v e s ta t u s t o b e i n h e r i t e d b y o f fs p r i n g o f t h e
s e l f- e n s la v e d , f o r th e n a c o n c e r n e d p a r t y ' s s i tu a t io n w o u l d b e d e c i d e d f o r
h i m , i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f h is w ill. S o m e t hi n g s i n d i v id u a l s m a y c h o o s e f o r
t h e m s e l v e s n o o n e m a y c h o o s e f o r a n o t h e r (p . 3 3 1 ). L e t u s r e m e m b e r
t h i s w h e n w e c o m e t o s c r u t i n i z e t h e W i l t C h a m b e r l a i n t r a n s a c t i o n , f o r
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
4/19
8 G . A . C O H E N
widespread contracting of the kind which occurs in the parable might
have the effect of seriously modifying, for the worse, the situation of
members of future generations.
Should we say that in Nozick's conception of justice a slave society
need be no less just than one where people are free? That would be a
tendentious formulation 9For Nozick can add to what was reported above
that it is most unlikely that rational persons in an initially just situation
will in full knowledge of what they are doing contract into slavery, except,
indeed, where it would be wrong to forbid them to do so. This diminishes
the danger that (2) can be used to stamp approval on morally repellent
social arrangements 9
I attribute some such response to Nozick on the basis, inter li of this
passage:
9 i t m u s t b e g r a n t e d t h a t w e r e p e o p l e ' s r e a s o n s f o r t r a n s f e r r i n g s o m e o f t h e i r h o l d i n g s to
o t h e r s a l w a y s i r ra t i o n a l o r a r b i t r a r y , w e w o u l d f in d th i s d i s t u r b i n g . . . W e f e e l m o r e
c o m f o r t a b l e u p h o l d i n g t h e j u s ti c e o f a n e n t i t l e m e n t s y s t e m if m o s t o f t h e t r a n s f e r s u n d e r i t
a r e d o n e f o r r e a s o n s . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n n e c e s s a r i ly t h a t a ll d e s e r v e w h a t h o l d i n g s t h e y
r e c e iv e . I t m e a n s o n l y t h a t t h e r e i s a p u r p o s e o r p o i n t t o s o m e o n e ' s t r a n s f e r r i n g a h o l d i n g t o
o n e p e r s o n r a t h e r t h a n t o a n o t h e r ; t h a t u s u al ly w e c a n s e e w h a t t h e t r a n s f e r r e r
thinks
h e ' s
g a i n i n g , w h a t c a u s e h e
thinks
h e ' s s e r v i n g , w h a t g o a l s h e
thinks
h e ' s h e l p i n g t o a c h i e v e , a n d
s o f o r th . S i n c e i n a c a p it a l is t s o c i e ty p e o p l e o f t e n t r a n s f e r h o l d i n g s t o o t h e r s i n a c c o r d a n c e
w i t h h o w m u c h t h e y per eive t h e s e o t h e r s b e n e f i t i n g t h e m , t h e f a b r i c c o n s t i t u t e d b y t h e
i n d i v i d u a l t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d t r a n s f e r s i s l a r g e ly r e a s o n a b l e a n d i n t el l ig i b l e (p . 1 5 9 , m y
e m p h a s e s ) .
Accordingly, Nozick emphasizes the motives people have when they
pay to watch Chamberlain, instead of stipulating that they do so freely
and leaving us to guess why. The example would be less impressive
if Chamberlain or his agent had induced in the fans an inordinate taste
for basketball, by means which fall short of what Nozick would consider
coercive or fraudulent, but which remain unattractive. It is important to
the persuasive allure of the example that we should think what the fans
are doing not only voluntary but sensible.
So transactions are disturbing, even though they are just - Nozick does
not quite say that what dis turbs us undermines the jus t ice of the transac-
tion - when we cannot see what the (or some of the) contracting parties
think they are gaining by them. But we should surely also be disturbed if
though we can see what the agent
t h i n k s
he's gaining, we know that what
he
wil l
gain is not that, but something he thinks less valuable; or that what
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
5/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
r e s u l ts is ' n o t o n l y t h e g a i n h e e x p e c t s b u t a l s o u n f o r e s e e n c o n s e q u e n c e s
w h i c h r e n d e r n e g a t i v e t h e n e t v a l u e , a c c o r d in g t o his p r e f e r e n c e s a n d
s t a n d a r d s , o f t h e t ra n s a c t i o n . W e s h o u l d n o t b e c o n t e n t i f w h a t h e
t h i n k s
h e i s g e t t i n g i s g o o d , b u t w h a t h e a c t u a l l y g e t s is b a d , b y h is o w n l ig h t s. I
s h al l a s s u m e t h a t N o z i c k w o u l d a c c e p t t h i s p l a u s i b l e e x t e n s i o n o f h is
c o n c e s s i o n . I f h e w o u l d n o t , s o m u c h t h e w o r s e f o r hi s p o s i t i o n .
H e n c e i f w e c a n s h o w t h a t C h a m b e r l a i n ' s f a n s g e t n o t o n l y t h e p l e a s u r e
o f w a t c h i n g h i m m i n u s t w e n t y - f iv e c e n t s b u t a ls o u n c o n t e m p l a t e d d i s-
b e n e f i t s o f a hi g h o r d e r , t h e n e v e n i f f o r N o z i c k t h e o u t c o m e r e m a i n s j u s t ;
i t s h o u l d , e v e n t o N o z i c k , b e r a t h e r d i s tu r b i n g . W e s h a ll n e e d t o a sk
w h e t h e r w e d o n o t fi nd i r r a t i o n a l it y i n th e C h a m b e r l a i n t ra n s a c t i o n , w h e n
w e t h i n k t h r o u g h , a s N o z i c k ' s f a n s d o n o t , t h e f u l l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f w h a t
t h e y a r e d o i n g .
B u t n o w w e c a n g o f u r th e r . F o r , i n t h e l ig h t o f t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s j u s t
r e v i e w e d , ( 2) a p p e a r s v e r y p r o b a b l y f a ls e . N o z i c k s a y s a t r a n s a c t i o n is
f r e e o f in j u s t i c e i f e v e r y c o n c e r n e d p a r t y a g r e e s t o it . P e r h a p s t h a t i s s o .
B u t t ra n s a c t i o n a l j u s t ic e , s o c h a r a c t e r i z e d , is s u p p o s e d - g i v e n a n in i ti a ll y
j u s t s i t u a t i o n - t o c o n f e r j u s t i c e o n w h a t r e s u l t s f r o m i t. ( T h a t i s w h y ( 2 )
f o l lo w s fr o m (1 )) . A n d t h a t i s q u e s t i o n a b l e . O f e a c h p e r s o n w h o a g r e e s t o
a t r a n s a c t i o n w e m a y a s k : w o u l d h e h a v e a g r ee d to it h a d h e k n o w n w h a t its
o u t c o m e w a s t o b e
S i n c e t h e a n s w e r m a y b e n e g a t i v e , i t is f a r f r o m
e v i d e n t t h a t t r a n s a c t i o n a l j u s t i c e , a s d e s c r i b e d , t r a n s m i t s j u s t i c e t o i ts
r e s u lt s . P e r h a p s t h e e f f e c t o b t a i n s w h e n t h e a n s w e r is p o s i t iv e . T h i s l e a d s
u s t o r e v i s e ( 2 ) , a s f o l l o w s :
( 3) W h a t e v e r a r i s e s f r o m a j u s t s i t u a t i o n a s a r e s u l t o f f u l l y
v o l u n t a r y t r a n s a c t i o n s w h i c h a ll t r a n s a g e n t s w o u l d s ti l l h a v e
a g r e e d t o if t h e y h a d k n o w n w h a t t h e r e s u l t s o f s o tr a n s a c t i n g
w e r e t o b e i s i t se l f ju s t .
(3 ) l o o k s p l a u si b le , b u t its p o w e r t o e n d o r s e m a r k e t - g e n e r a t e d s t a te s o f
a f fa i rs is , w h i l e n o t n i l, v e r y w e a k . S t r o n g e r p r i n c i p l e s m a y a l s o b e
a v a i l a b l e , 7 b u t ( 2 ) , N o z i c k ' s p r i n c i p l e , is c e r t a i n l y t o o s t r o n g .
L e t u s n o w a p p l y t h i s c r i ti q u e o f N o z i c k ' s p r i n c i p le s t o t h e p a r a b l e
w h i c h i s s u p p o s e d t o s e c u r e ( o r r e v e a l ) o u r a l le g i a n c e t o t h e m .
B e f o r e d e s c r i b i n g t h e C h a m b e r l a i n t r a n s a c t io n , N o z i c k s a y s : I t is n o t
c l e a r h o w t h o s e h o l d i n g a l t e r n a t i v e c o n c e p t i o n s o f d i s t r i b u t i v e j u s t i c e c a n
r e j e c t th e e n t i t l e m e n t c o n c e p t i o n o f j u s t ic e i n h o l d i n g s (p . 1 6 0 ). T h e r e
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
6/19
1 0 G . A . C O H E N
f o l lo w s th e C h a m b e r l a i n s t o ry , w h e r e w e a s s u m e t h a t D 1 is j u st , a n d a r e
t h e n , s u p p o s e d l y , c o n s t r a i n e d t o a d m i t t h a t D 2 , i n t o w h i c h it is c o n v e r t e d ,
m u s t a l s o b e j u s t; a n a d m i s s i o n , a c c o r d i n g t o N o z i c k , w h i c h i s t a n t a m o u n t
t o a c c e p t i n g t h e e n t i t l e m e n t c o n c e p t i o n . B u t h o w m u c h o f i t m u s t w e
a c c e p t i f w e e n d o r s e D 2 a s j u s t ? A t m o s t t h a t t h e r e is a r o l e fo r th e
e n t i t l e m e n t p r in c i p l e. F o r w h a t t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s u b v e r t s i s t h e o ri g in a l
p a t t e r n , n o t t h e p r i n c ip l e g o v e r n i n g i t, t a k e n a s a p r i n c i p le c o n j o i n a b l e
w i t h o t h e r s t o f o r m a to t a l t h e o r y o f j u s t o r l e g it i m a t e h o l d in g s . T h e
e x a m p l e , e v e n i f s u c c e s s fu l , d o e s n o t d e f e a t t h e i n it ia l a s s u m p t i o n t h a t D 1
i s j u s t. R a t h e r , i t e x p l o i t s t h a t a s s u m p t i o n t o a r g u e t h a t D 2 , t h o u g h i t
b r e a k s D l ' s p a t t e r n , is a l s o j u s t. T h e s t o r y , if s o u n d , i m p u g n s n o t t h e
o r i g in a l d i s t ri b u t i o n , b u t t h e ex lusive r i g h t n e s s o f t h e p r in c i p l e d e t e r -
m i n i n g i t .
N o w N o z i c k i s c e r t a in l y r i g h t t o t h is e x t e n t , e v e n i f w e r e j e c t t h e
C h a m b e r l a i n s to r y : t h e r e m u s t b e a r o le fo r e n t i t le m e n t in d e t e r m i n i n g
a c c e p t a b l e h o l d i n g s. F o r u n l e s s t h e j u s t s o c i e t y f o r b i d s g if t, it m u s t a l l o w
t r a n s f e rs w h i c h d o n o t a n s w e r t o a p a t t e r n i n g p r i n c ip l e . T h i s is c o m p a t i b l e
w i t h p l a c i n g r e s t r a in t s o n t h e s c o p e o f g i ft , a n d w e s h a ll s h o r t l y s e e w h y i t
m a y b e j u s t i f ie d i n d o i n g s o . M o r e g e n e r a l l y , a s s i g n in g a c e r t a in r o l e t o
u n r e g u l a t e d t r a n s a c t i o n s i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f h o l d i n g s is c o m p a t i b l e
w i t h u s i n g an e g a l it a r ia n p r i n c ip l e t o d e c i d e t h e m a j o r d i s t ri b u t i o n o f
g o o d s a n d t o l im i t, f o r e x a m p l e b y t ax a t io n , h o w m u c h m o r e o r le ss t h a n
w h a t h e w o u l d g e t u n d e r t h a t p r i n ci p le a l o n e a p e r s o n m a y c o m e to h a v e
i n v i r t u e o f t ra n s a c t i o n s w h i c h e s c a p e i t s w r i t . I t h i n k s o c i a l is t s d o w e l l t o
c o n c e d e t h a t a n e g a l i t a ri a n p r i n c ip l e s h o u l d n o t b e t h e o n l y g u i d e t o t h e
j u s t i c e o f h o l d i n g s , o r , if i t is , t h e n j u s t i c e s h o u l d n o t b e t h e o n l y g u i d e t o
t h e m o r a l l e g i t im a c y o f h o l d in g s . 8
A m o n g t h e r e a s o n s f o r l i m i t i n g h o w m u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l m a y h o l d ,
r e g a r d l e s s o f h o w h e c a m e t o h o l d it , is t o p r e v e n t h i m f r o m a c q u i ri n g ,
t h r o u g h h is h o ld i n gs , a n u n a c c e p t a b l e a m o u n t o f power o v e r o t h e r s . 9
I s t h e C h a m b e r l a i n t r a n s a c t i o n r e a l ly b e n e f ic i a l (o r a t w o r s t h a rm l e s s )
t o e v e r y o n e w i t h a n i n t e r e s t i n i t ? I s h a ll a r g u e t h a t i t t h r e a t e n s t o
g e n e r a t e a s i tu a t io n in w h i c h s o m e c o m e t o h a v e u n a c c e p t a b l e a m o u n t s o f
p o w e r o v e r o t h e r s .
T h e f a n s a r e e x c i t e d a b o u t s e e i n g h im p l a y ; i t is w o r t h t h e to t a l
a d m i s s io n p r i c e t o th e m . T h e i d e a i s t h a t t h e y s e e h i m p l a y if a n d o n l y if
t h e y p a y , a n d s e e i n g h i m p l a y is w o r t h m o r e t o t h e m t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
7/19
H O W P T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y 11
they can get for twenty-five cents. So it
m a y
be, but this fails to capture
everything in the outcome which is relevant. For once Chamberlain has
received the payments he is in a very special position of power in what was
previously an egalitarian society. The fans access to resources in future
may be prejudiced by the disproportionate access Chamberlain s wealth
gives him, and the consequent power over others he now has.
For a l l
N o z i c k s a y s the socialist may claim that this is not a bargain informed
people in an egalitarian society will be apt to make: they will refrain from
so contracting as to upset the equality they prize. They will be specially
averse to doing so because the resulting changes would profoundly affect
their children. (This may seem an hysterical projection of the effect of the
Chamberlain transaction, but I take it we have to consider the upshot of
general performance of transactions of that kind, and then the projection
is, I submit, entirely realistic).
It is easy to think carelessly about the example. How we feel about
people like Chamberlain getting a lot of money
as t h ings are
is a poor
index of how people would feel in the imagined situation. Among us the
ranks of the rich and the powerful exist, and it can be pleasing, given that
they do, when a figure like Chamberlain joins them. Who better and more
innocently deserves to be among them? But the case before us is a society
of equality in danger of corruption. Reflective people would have to
consider not only the joy of watching Chamberlain and its immediate
money price but also the fact, which socialists say they would deplore,
that their society would be set on the road to class division. In presenting
the Chamberlain fable Nozick ignores the commitment people may have
to living in a society of a particular kind, and the rhetorical power of the
illustration depends on that omission. Later - see p. 14 below - Nozick
takes up this point, but he says nothing interesting about it.
Nozick tacitly supposes that a person willing to pay twenty-five cents to
watch Wilt play is i p s o f a c t o a person willing to pay W i l t twenty-five cents
to watch him play. It is no doubt true that in our society people rarely care
who gets the money they forgo to obtain goods. But the tacit supposition
is false, and the common unconcern is irrational. Nozick exploits our
familiarity with this unconcern. Yet a person might welcome a world in
which he and a million others watch Wilt play, at a cost of twenty-five
cents to each, and consistently disfavour one in which, in addition, Wilt
receives a cool quarter million.
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
8/19
12 G . A . C O H E N
So if a citizen of the D1 society joins with others in paying twenty-five
cents to Wilt to watch Wilt play, without thinking about the effect on
Wilt's power, then the result may be deemed 'disturbing' in the sense of p.
159. Of course a single person's paying a quarte r will make no appreci-
able difference if the rest are already going to do so. But a convention
might evolve not to make such payments, or, more simply, there could be
a democratically authorized taxation system which maintains wealth
differentials within acceptable limits. Whether Wilt would then still play
is a further question on which I shall not comment, except to say that
anyone who thinks it obvious he would not misunderstands human
nature, or basketball, or both.
In defending the justice of the Chamberlain transaction, Nozick
glances at the position of persons not directly party to it: After someone
transfers something to Wilt Chamberlain, third parties s t i l l have their
legitimate shares; t h i r shares are not changed . This is false, in one
relevant sense. For a person's effective share depends on what he can do
with what he has, and that depends not only on how much he has but on
what others have and on how what others have is distributed. If it is
distributed equally among them he will often be better placed than if
some have especially large shares. Third parties, including the as yet
unborn, therefore have an interest against the contract, which is not
catered for. It is roughly the same interest as the fans have in not making
it.
Nozick addresses this issue in a footnote:
M i g h t n o t a t r a n s f e r h a v e i n s t r u m e n t a l e f f e ct s o n a t h i r d p a r t y , c h a n g i n g h is f e as i b l e
o p t i o n s ? B u t w h a t i f t h e t w o p a r t i e s to a t r a n s f e r i n d e p e n d e n t l y h a d u s e d t h e i r h o l d i n g s i n
t h i s f a s h i o n ? ) p . 1 6 2 )
He promises further treatment of the problem later, and though he does
not say where, he presumably means his section on 'Voluntary
Exchange', which we shall examine at the end of this paper. Here I
respond to his parenthet ical rhetorical question.
First, there are some upshots of transfers of holdings, some effects on
the options of the other parties, which will not occur as effects of the
unconcerted use of dispersed holdings by individuals, because they could
not, or because they would not use them in that way. The Chamberlain
fans, acting independently, would probably be unable to buy a set of
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
9/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
3
h o u s e s a n d l e a v e t h e m u n o c c u p i e d , w i t h s p e c u l a t i v e i n t e n t , b u t C h a m -
b e r l a i n c a n . S o t o b e g i n w i t h ' t h i s f a s h i o n ' w i l l s o m e t i m e s n o t b e o n e i n
w h i c h p a r ti e s c o u l d o r w o u l d u s e t h e i r h o l d in g s i n d e p e n d e n t l y . A n d w h e n
t h e e f f e c t t o w h i c h o b j e c t i o n is m a d e m i g h t i n d e e d b e r e a l is e d b y s u c h
i n d e p e n d e n t a c t i o n , t h e n t h o s e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e e f f e c t w ill n a t u r a l l y
a ls o b e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h a t a c t i o n - t h e r h e t o r i c a l q u e s t i o n d o e s n o t
t u r n t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h o s e w h o a s k t h e f i rs t o n e t o a p a r a l l e l c a s e w h e r e
t h e y h a v e r e a s o n t o a g r e e w i th N o z i c k .
A s a n a r g u m e n t a b o u t
j u s t i c e 1 ~
t h e C h a m b e r l a i n s t o r y is e i t h e r
q u e s t i o n - b e g g i n g o r u n c o m p e l l in g . N o z i c k as k s:
I f t h e p e o p l e w e r e e n t i t l e d t o d i s p o s e o f t h e r e s o u r c e s t o w h i c h t h e y w e r e e n t i t l e d ( u n d e r
D 1 ) , d i d n t t h i s i n c l u d e t h e i r b e i n g e n t i t l e d t o g i v e i t to , o r e x c h a n g e i t w i t h , W i l t
C h a m b e r l a i n ? ( p . 1 6 1 )
I f t h is i n t e r r o g a t i v e i s i n t e n d e d a s a v i v id w a y o f a s s e r ti n g t h e c o r r e s p o n d -
i n g i n d i c a ti v e , t h e n N o z i c k i s t e l li n g u s t h a t t h e r i g h t s i n s h a re s w i t h w h i c h
t h e y w e r e v e s t e d a r e v i o l a t e d u n l e s s t h e y a r e a l l o w e d t o c o n t r a c t a s
d e s c r i b e d . I f s o , h e b e g s t h e q u e s t i o n . F o r i t w i ll b e c l e a r t h a t t h e i r r ig h t s
a r e v i o l a t e d o n l y i f t h e e n t i t l e m e n t t h e y r e c e i v e d w a s o f th e a b s o l u t e
N o z i c k i a n s o r t, a n d t h is c a n n o t b e a s s u m e d . W h a t e v e r p r i n c ip l e s u n d e r l ie
D 1 w i ll g e n e r a t e r e s t r i c t io n s o n t h e u s e o f w h a t i s d i s t r i b u t e d i n a c c o r -
d a n c e w i t h t h e m . 11
T h e o t h e r w a y o f t a k i n g t h e q u o t e d q u e s t i o n is n o t a s an a s s e r ti o n b u t a s
a n a p p e a l . N o z i c k i s t h e n a s k i n g u s w h e t h e r w e d o n o t a g r e e t h a t a n y
r e s t r i c t i o n s w h i c h w o u l d f o r b i d t h e C h a m b e r l a i n t r a n s a c t i o n m u s t b e
u n j u s t i f ie d . S o c o n s t r u e d t h e a r g u m e n t is n o t q u e s t i o n - b e g g i n g , b u t it is
i n c o n c l u s i v e . F o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w h i c h m i g h t j u s t i f y r e s t r i c t i o n s a r e n o t
c a n v a s s e d , s u c h a s th e f a c t t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t m a y g e n e r a t e i n o r d i n a t e
p o w e r . I t is e a s y to t h in k t h a t w h a t h a p p e n s a f t e r w a r d s is t h a t C h a m b e r -
l a in e a t s l o ts o f c h o c o l a t e , s e e s l o ts o f m o v i e s a n d b u y s l o t s o f s u b s c ri p -
t i o n s t o e x p e n s i v e s o c ia l is t j o u r n a l s . B u t , a s I h a v e i n s is t ed , w e m u s t
r e m e m b e r t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e p o w e r h e c a n n o w e x e r c i s e o v e r o t h e rs . 12 I n
g e n e r a l h o l d i n g s a r e n o t o n l y s o u r ce s o f e n j o y m e n t b u t in c e rt a i n
d i s t r ib u t i o n s s o u r c e s o f p o w e r . T r a n s f e r s w h i c h l o o k u n e x c e p t i o n a b l e
c o m e t o s e e m o t h e r w i s e w h e n w e b r in g i n t o r e l ie f t h e a s p e c t n e g l e c t e d b y
b o u r g e o i s a p o l o g e t i c .
T u r n i n g f r o m j u s t ic e t o
l i b e r t y
is i t t r u e t h a t a s o c i a l i s t s o c i e t y w o u l d
h a v e t o f o r b i d c a p i ta l i st a c ts b e t w e e n c o n s e n t i n g a d u l t s ( p. 1 6 3 ) ?
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
10/19
1 4 G A C O H E N
S o c i al is m p e r i s h e s i f t h e r e a r e t o o m a n y s u c h a c t s, b u t i t d o e s n o t f o l l o w
tha t i t mus t fo rb id them. In t r ad i t iona l soc ia l i s t doc t r ine cap i t a l i s t ac t ion
w a n e s n o t p r i m a r i l y b e c a u s e i t i s i ll e ga l , b u t b e c a u s e t h e i m p u l s e b e h i n d i t
a t r o p h i e s , o r , l e ss U t o p i a n l y , b e c a u s e o t h e r i m p u l s e s b e c o m e s t ro n g e r , o r
b e c a u s e p e o p l e b e l i e v e t h a t c a p i ta l is t ic e x c h a n g e i s u n f a ir .
S u c h e x p e c t a -
t ion rests on a concep t ion o f hu m an na ture an d so does i ts den ia l .
N o z i c k
h a s a d i f fe r e n t c o n c e p t i o n , f o r w h i c h h e d o e s n o t a r g u e , o n e t h a t f i ts m a n y
2 0 t h c e n t u r y A m e r i c a n s , w h i c h is n o r e a s o n f o r c o n c l u d i n g i t is u n i v e r -
s a l ly t rue . The peop le in h i s s t a t e o f na tu re a r e in te l l ig ib le on ly as we l l
s o c i a li z e d p r o d u c t s o f a m a r k e t s o c i e ty . In t h e c o n t r a r y s o c i al is t c o n c e p -
t i o n h u m a n b e i n g s h a v e a n d m a y d e v e l o p f u r t h e r a n u n q u a l i f i e d ( t h a t is ,
n o n - ' i n s t r u m e n t a l ' ) d e s i r e fo r c o m m u n i t y , a n u n q u a l i fi e d r e li sh o f c o o p -
e r a t i o n , a n d a n u n q u a l i f i e d a v e r s i o n t o b e i n g o n e i t h e r s i d e o f a
m a s t e r / s e r v a n t r e l a ti o n sh i p . N o o n e s h o u ld a s s u m e w i t h o u t a r g u m e n t , o r
t ak e i t on t rus t f rom the soc ia l i s t t r ad i t ion , tha t th i s conc ep t io n i s soun d .
B u t
i f
i t is soun d , th e re w i ll be no n ee d fo r inces sa n t inv ig i la t ion aga ins t
' cap i t a l i s t ac t s ' , and Noz ick does no t argue t h a t i t i s u n s o u n d . H e n c e h e
h a s n o t s h o w n t h a t s o c i a li s m c o n f li c ts w i t h f r e e d o m , e v e n i f h is u n a r g u e d
premise tha t i t s c i t i zens w i l l wan t to pe r fo rm cap i t a l i s t ac t s a t t r ac t s the
a s s e n t o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f h is r e a d e r s .
H o w m u c h e q u a l i t y w o u l d c o n f li c t w i t h l i b e r t y i n g iv e n c i r c u m s t a n c e s
d e p e n d s o n h o w m u c h p e o p l e w o u l d v a l u e e q u a l i t y i n t h o s e c i r -
c u m s t a n c e s. I f li fe in a c o - o p e r a t i v e c o m m o n w e a l t h a p p e a l s t o t h e m , t h e y
d o n o t h a v e t o s a c ri fi c e l i b e r t y t o b e l o n g t o i t.
T h i s b a n a l p o i n t r e l a t e s t o t h e f i r s t o f N o z i c k ' s t h r e e ' u n r e a l i s t i c '
p r e s u p p o s i t i o n s o f t h e m o r a l a n d p r a c ti c a l f e a s i b i li t y o f s o c ia l is m :
(5 ) t h a t a ll w i ll m o s t w a n t t o m a i n t a i n t h e p a t t e r n
(6)
t h a t e a c h c a n g a t h e r e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t h i s o w n
a c t i o n s a n d t h e o n g o i n g a c t i v it ie s o f o t h e r s t o d i s c o v e r w h i c h
o f h is a c t i o n s w i ll u p s e t t h e p a t t e r n
(7)
t h a t d i v e r s e a n d f a r - f l u n g p e r s o n s c a n c o o r d i n a t e t h e i r
a c t i o n s t o d o v e t a i l i n t o t h e p a t t e r n . (p . 1 6 3 )
Som eth ing l ike the f i r s t p res up pos i t ion is m ad e by soc ia li s t s in the l igh t
o f t h e i d e a o f h u m a n n a t u r e w h i c h i n f o r m s t h e i r t r a d i t i o n . I t is, o f c o u r s e ,
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
11/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y 5
controversial, but its dismissal as unrealistic contributes nothing to the
controversy.
Only something l i k e (5) is presupposed, because a socialist need think
only that a great majori ty will have socialist sentiments, not all, especially
not in the nascency of socialism. If (5) itself is unrealistic, three pos-
sibilities present themselves: very few would lack enthusiasm for social-
ism; very many would; some intermediate proportion would. What I
mean by these magnitudes will emerge immediately.
Consider then the first possibility: there remain a few capitalistically
minded persons, meaning by a few that their capitalist acts would not
undermine the basic socialist structure. No sane socialist should commit
himself to the suppression of capitalist activity on the stated scale. (It
might even be desirable to allocate to these capitalists a terr itory in which
they can bargain with and hire one another).
Suppose, though, that the disposition to perform capitalist acts is strong
and widespread, so that socialism x3 is possible only with tyranny. What
socialist favours socialism in such circumstances? What socialist denies
that there are such circumstances? Certainly Marx insisted it would be
folly to attempt an institution of socialism except under the propitious
conditions he was confident capitalism would create. 14 A socialist
believes propitious conditions are accessible. He need not proclaim the
superiority of socialism regardless of circumstances.
Could a socialist society contain an amount of inclination to capitalism
of such a size that unless it were coercively checked socialism would be
subverted, yet sufficiently small that in socialist judgment socialism, with
the required coercion, would still be worthwhile? Marxian socialists
believe so, and that does commit them to a prohibition on capitalist acts
between consenting adults in certain circumstances, notably those which
follow a successful revolution. But why should they flinch from imposing
the prohibition? They can defend it by reference to the social good and
widened freedom it promotes. Nozick will object that the prohibition
violates moral side constraints : certain freedoms, for example of con-
tract, ought never to be infringed, whatever the consequences of allowing
their exercise may be. We shall look at side constraints in a moment.
But first we must treat presuppositions (6) and (7). Unlike (5), these are
red herrings. At most, they are preconditions of realising socialist justice
p e r f e c t l y 1 5 But justice is not the only virtue of social orders (and it is not
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
12/19
16 G . A . C O H E N
e v e n ' t h e f i r st v i r t u e ' o f so c i a l is m , f o r m o s t s o c i a li s ts ) . E v e n i f w e i d e n t i f y
j u s ti c e w i t h e q u a l i t y , a s so c ia l is ts , b r o a d l y s p e a k i n g , d o , w e m a y t o l e r a t e
d e v i a ti o n s f r o m e q u a l i ty c o n s e q u e n t o n d i f fe r e n ti a l c a p a c i ty t o e n j o y t h e
s a m e t h i n g s, o r r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e r a n d o m d i s t r ib u t i o n t h a t a r i s e s o u t o f
g i ft , e t c . C o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f p ri v a c y , a c q u i r e d e x p e c t a t i o n s , t h e m o r a l a n d
e c o n o m i c c o s ts o f su r v e i ll a n c e , e tc . d e c l a r e a g a i n s t a t t e m p t i n g a r e a l iz a -
t i o n o f j u s t i c e i n t h e h i g h d e g r e e t h a t w o u l d b e p o s s i b l e i f ( 6 ) a n d ( 7 )
w e r e s a t i s f i e d . W e l e t j u s t i c e r e m a i n r o u g h , i n d e f e r e n c e t o o t h e r
v a l u e s .
A c c o r d i n g l y , s o c i a li sm t o l e r a t e s g i ft -g i v in g , a n d ' lo v i n g b e h a v i o u r ' is
n o t ' f o r b i d d e n ' ( p . 1 6 7 ) . G i f t is p o s s i b le u n d e r a s y s t e m w h i c h l im i t s
h o w m u c h a n y o n e m a y h a v e a n d w h a t h e m a y d o w i t h i t . R e l a t i v e l y
w e l l e n d o w e d p e r s o n s w i ll s o m e t i m e s n o t b e f it r e c i p i e n t s o f g if ts , b u t
w e a r e a s s u m i n g a s o c ia l is t p s y c h o l o g y w h o s e n a t u r a l t e n d e n c y is n o t
t o g iv e t o h i m t h a t h a t h . A n d t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h e i n s t i tu t i o n s w e a r e
c o n t e m p l a t i n g f e t t e r t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f l o v e i s t o o m u l t i p l y b i z a r r e t o
r e q u ir e c o m m e n t .
A n y b u t t h e m o s t u t o p i a n s o c i a l i s t m u s t b e w i l l i n g u n d e r c e r t a i n
c o n d i t i o n s to r e s t ri c t t h e l ib e r t y o f s o m e f o r t h e s a k e o f o th e r s . H e t h e r e b y
f l o u ts w h a t N o z i c k c a ll s t h e m o r a l s i d e c o n s t r a i n t s o n a ll h u m a n a c t i o n .
N o z i c k t h in k s w e m a y n e v e r l im i t o n e m a n ' s f r e e d o m in o r d e r t o e n h a n c e
t h e w e l f a r e o r f r e e d o m o f v e r y m a n y o t h e r s , o r e v e n o f e v e r y o n e ,
h i m i n c l u d e d , w h e r e w e k n o w h e w i l l b e n e f i t a s a r e s u l t a t a f u t u r e
t im e. 16
I f c h i l d r e n a r e u n d e r n o u r i s h e d i n o u r s o c i e ty , w e a r e n o t a l l o w e d to t a x
m i l l i o n a i r e s i n o r d e r t o f i n a n c e a s u b s i d y o n t h e p r i c e o f m i l k t o p o o r
f a m i l ie s , f o r w e w o u l d b e v i o l a t i n g t h e r i g h t s , a n d t h e ' d i g n i t y ' ( p. 3 3 4 ) o f
t h e m i l l io n a i r e s . 17 W e c a n n o t a p p e a l t h a t t h e e f f e c t i v e l i b e r t y o f th e m e n
t h e c h i l d r e n w i l l b e w o u l d b e g r e a t l y e n h a n c e d a t l i t t l e e x p e n s e t o t h e
m i l l i o n a i r e s ' f r e e d o m , f o r N o z i c k f o r b id s a n y a c t w h i c h r e s t ri c t s f r e e d o m :
h e d o e s n o t c a ll f o r i ts m a x i m i z a t i o n . ( T h i s m e a n s t h a t i f i t w e r e t r u e t h a t
c e r t a i n e x e r c is e s o f f r e e d o m w o u l d l e a d t o t o t a l i ta r i a n i s m , N o z i c k w o u l d
s ti ll p r o t e c t t h e m . M a r k e t f r e e d o m i ts e lf w o u l d b e s a c r i f ic e d b y N o z i c k i f
t h e o n l y w a y t o p r e s e r v e i t w e r e b y l i m i t in g i t ) 8 )
I f N o z i c k a r g u e s f o r t h i s p o s i t io n , h e d o e s s o in t h e s e c t i o n c a l l e d ' W h y
S i d e C o n s t r a i n t s ? ' , w h i c h b e g i n s a s f o l lo w s :
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
13/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
7
Isn t it irrational to accept a side constra int C, rather than a view that direc ts minimizing the
violations of C ?. .. If non-violation of C is so important, shouldn t that be the goal? How
can a concern for the nonviolation of C lead to the refusal to violate C even when this would
prevent other more extensive violations of C? What is the rationale for placing the
nonviolation of rights as a side constraint upon action instead of including it solely as a goal
of one s actions? 19
Side constraints upon action reflect the underlying Kantian principle that individuals are
ends and not merely means; they may not be sacrificed or used for the achieving of other
ends without their consent. Individuals are inviolable. (pp. 30-31).
T h e s e c o n d p a r a g r a p h is l a m e a s a re s p o n s e t o t h e q u e s t i o n s o f t h e f ir st ,
f o r t h e y o b v i o u s l y r e a s s e r t t h e m s e l v e s : i f s u c h s a c r if ic e a n d v i o l a t io n i s s o
h o r r e n d o u s , w h y s h o u l d w e n o t b e c o n c e r n e d t o m i n i m i z e i ts o c c u r e n c e ?
T h e r e is m o r e a p p e a r a n c e o f a r g u m e n t 2~ a t t h e e n d o f t h e s e c t io n :
Side constraints express the inviolability of other persons. But why may not one violate
persons for the greater social good? Individually, we each sometimes choose to undergo
some pain or sacrifice for a greater benefit or to avoid a greate r ha rm .. . Why not, s i m i l a r l y
hold that some persons have to bear some costs that benefit other persons more, for the sake
of the overall social good? But there is no s o c i a l e n t i t y with a good that undergoes some
sacrifice for its own good. There are only individual people, different individual people, with
their own individual lives. Using one of these people for the benefit of others, uses him and
benefits the others. Nothing more. What happens is that something is done to him for the
sake of others. Talk of an overall social good covers this up .. . (pp. 32-33)
T h i s p a s s a g e i s h a r d t o c o n s t r u e . I n o n e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w h a t i t s a y s is
c o r r e c t b u t i r r e l e v a n t , i n t h e o t h e r w h a t i t s a y s is r e l e v a n t b u t w r o n g , a n d
a n y o n e w h o is i m p r e s s e d h a s p r o b a b l y f a il e d to s p o t t h e a m b i g u i t y . F o r i t
i s u n c l e a r w h e t h e r N o z i c k i s o n l y a r g u i n g against o n e w h o p u t s r e d i s-
t r i b u t i o n a c r o s s l iv e s o n a m o r a l p a r w i t h a m a n s s a c r if ic i n g s o m e t h i n g f o r
h i s o w n g r e a t e r b e n e f i t , o r a r g u i n g for t h e m o r a l i m p e r m i s s i b i l i t y o f
r e d i s t r i b u t i o n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , is N o z i c k s i m p l y r e j e c t i n g a r g u m e n t
A
o r
is h e ( a ls o) p r o p o u n d i n g a r g u m e n t B ?
A S i n c e P e r s o n s c o m p o s e a s o c ia l e n t i t y r e l e v a n t l y a k i n t o t h e
e n t i t y a s i n g l e p e r s o n i s ( p ) , r e d i s t r i b u t i o n a c r o s s p e r s o n s i s
m o r a l l y p e r m i s s ib l e ( q) .
B S inc e i t is f a l s e t ha t
p
i t i s fa l se that q .
I f N o z i c k i s j u s t r e j e c t i n g A , t h e n I a c c e p t w h a t h e s a y s , b u t t h e s i d e
c o n s t r a i n t s r e m a i n u n j u s t i f i e d . U n l e s s w e t a k e h i m a s p r o p o u n d i n g B ,
t h e r e is n o c a s e t o a n s w e r . A n d t h e n t h e a n s w e r is t h a t t h e t r u t h o f p is n o t
a n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n o f t h e t r u t h o f q. A r e d i s t r i b u t o r d o e s n o t h a v e t o
be l i eve i n a soc i a l en t i t y . 2 I
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
14/19
18 G.A. COHEN
Side constraints remain unjustified, and a socialist need not apologise
for being willing to restrict freedom in order to expand it.
We now examine Nozick's section on 'Voluntary Exchange', which
presumed (see p. 12) to be his more extended treatment of the problem of
the effect of market transactions on persons not party to them, including
the as yet unborn. He allows that agreed exchanges between A and B
may reduce the options of an absent C, but he implies they do not thereby
reduce C's freedom. He explicitly says that they do not render involun-
tary anything C does. And since what C is forced to do he does
involuntari ly, it follows that, for Nozick, the actions of A and B, though
reducing C's options, do not have the result that C is forced to do
something he might not otherwise have done.
The last claim entails a denial of a thesis central to the socialist critique
of capitalism, which may usefully be expressed in the terms of Nozick's
doctrine of natural rights, without commitment to the t ruth of the latter.
For Nozick, every man has a natural right not to work for any other
man. If one is a slave, then, unless one enslaved oneself (see p. 7 above),
one's rights were violated, as they are in slave states, which do not confer
on every one as a mat ter of civil right the rights he enjoys naturally. And
natural rights would remain violated if the law permitted slaves to choose
for which master they shall labour, as long it forbade them to withhold
their services from all masters whatsoever.
One difference between a capitalist state and a slave state is that the
natural right not to be subordinate in the manner of a slave is a civil right
in liberal capitalism. The law excludes formation of a set of persons
legally obliged to work for other persons. That status being forbidden,
everyone is entitled to work for no one. But the power corresponding to
this right22 is differentially enjoyed. Some
c n
live without subordinating
themselves, but most cannot. The latter face a structure generated by a
history of market transactions in which, it is reasonable to say, they are
f o r c e d to work for some or other person or group. Their natural rights are
not matched by corresponding effective powers.
This division between the powerful and the powerless with respect to
the alienation of labour power is the heart of the socialist objection to
capitalism. The rights Nozick says we have by nature we also have civilly
under capitalism, but the corresponding power is widely lacking. The lack
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
15/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y 9
is softened in contemporary capitalism because of a hard-won
institutionalization of a measure of working class power. In Nozick's
capitalism that institutionalization, being coercive, would be forbidden,
and the lack would be greater.
But Nozick, in the course of his full reply to the problem of 'third
parties', denies that even the most abject proletarian is forced to work for
some capitalist or other. Addressing himself to market exchanges
between workers and owners of capital , he invites us to reflect on the
situation of a certain Z (so-called because he is at the bottom of the heap
in a twenty-six person economy) who is faced with working [for a
capitalist] or starving :
9 t h e c h o i ce s a n d a c t io n s o f a ll o th e r p e r s o n s d o n o t a d d u p t o p r o v id in g Z w i th so m e o th e r
o p t i o n . ( H e m a y h a v e v a r io u s o p t i o n s a b o u t w h a t j o b t o t a k e ) . D o e s Z c h o o s e t o w o r k
v o lu n t a r i l y ? . . . Z d o e s c h o o s e v o lu n ta r i l y i f t h e o th e r i n d iv id u a l s A th r o u g h Y e a c h ac t e d
v o lu n t a r il y a n d w i th in t h e ir r i g h t s . . . A p e r s o n ' s c h o i c e a m o n g d i f fe r in g d e g r e e s o f
u n p a l a t a b l e a l t e r n a ti v e s i s n o t r e n d e r e d n o n v o lu n t a r y b y t h e f a c t t h a t o th e r s v o lu n t a r il y
chose and ac ted wi th in the i r r igh ts in a way tha t d id n o t p rov ide h im wi th a more pa la tab le
a l t e r n a t i v e . . . [ W h e th e r o th e r p e o p l e ' s o p t i o n - c lo s in g a c t io n ] m a k e s o n e ' s r e su l t in g a c ti o n
non-vo lun ta ry depends on whe ther these o the rs had the r igh t to ac t a s they d id . (pp .
2 6 3 - 2 6 4 , 2 6 2 ) .
One might think people of necessity lack the right so to act that
someone ends up in Z 's position, a view we put forward later. But here we
suppose, with Nozick, that all of A through Y acted as impeccably
upright marketeers and therefore did nothing wrong. If so, says Nozick, z
is not
forced
to work for a capitalist. If he chooses to, the choice is
voluntary.
Nozick is not saying that Z, though forced to work or starve, is withal
not forced to
work
since he may choose toIstarve. Rather he would deny
that Z is forced to work or starve, even though Z has no other alternative,
and would accept that Z is indeed forced to work if, contrary to
what Nozick holds, he is forced to work Or starve. For Nozick believes
that if Z is forced to do A or B, and A is the only thing it would be
reasonable to do, and Z does A for this reas~)n, then Z is forced to do AY
Nozick holds that (8) Z is forced to dhoose between working and
starving only if there is a person (or persor~s) thus restricting his alterna-
tives, and (9) Z is forced so to choose only if the actions which restrict his
alternatives are illegitimate. Both claims are false. As Harry Frankfurt
has observed:
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
16/19
2 0 G . A . C O H E N
when a person chooses to act in order to acquire a benefit or in order to escape an injury, the
degree .. , to which he acts freely [does] not depend on the origin of the conditions which
lead him to choose and to act as he does 24
F o r h is c h o i c e t o b e f o r c e d , i t is u n n e c e s s a r y t h a t a p e r s o n o r g r o u p b e
a s s i g n e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e c o n d i t i o n s r e s t r i c t i n g i t , a n d
a f o r t i o r i
u n n e c e s s a r y t h a t a p e r s o n o r g r o u p b e i l l eg i t ima t e l y r e s t r i c t i n g h i s
a l t e r n a t i v e s .
W e a r e h e r e c o n c e r n e d w i th c h o i c e re s t r ic t i o n w h i ch N o z i c k h im s e l f
a s s ig n s t o t h e a c t i o n s o f p e r s o n s , v i z . s o m e o r al l o f A t h r o u g h Y , s o w e
n e e d n o t a r g u e a g a i n s t h im , w i t h F r a n k f u r t , t h a t i f s o m e o n e i s f o r c e d t o
d o s o m e t h i n g , it d o e s n o t f o l l o w t h a t s o m e o n e b r o u g h t i t a b o u t t h a t h e
w a s f o r c e d t o d o i t. F r a n k f u r t i s c e r t a i n l y r i g h t , b u t h i s c o u n t e r c l a i m is
s t r o n g e r t h a n w h a t w e n e e d . W e n e e d o n l y r e j e c t N o z i c k s c l ai m t h a t i f
s o m e o n e i s f o r c e d t o d o s o m e t h i n g , t h e n s o m e o n e a c t e d i l le g i ti m a t e ly : w e
n e e d r e f u t e s t a t e m e n t ( 9) o n l y . A g a i n :
Other people s actions may place limits on one s available opportunities. Whether this
makes one s resulting action non-voluntary depends upon whether these others had the
right to act as they did. (p. 262)
B u t t h e r e i s n o s u c h d e p e n d e n c e , a s t h e f o l l o w i n g p a i r o f e x a m p l e s
s h o w .
S u p p o s e f a r m e r F o w n s a t r a c t o f l a n d a c r o s s w h i c h v i l l a g e r V h a s a
r i g h t o f w a y . ( T o s ti ll o b j e c t i o n s N o z i c k m i g h t o t h e r w i s e h a v e t o t h i s
s t a t e m e n t , i m a g i n e t h a t V h a s t h e r ig h t b y v i r t u e o f a c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n F
a n d h i m s e lf ). T h e n i f F e r e c t s a n i n s u r m o u n t a b l e f e n c e a r o u n d t h e l a nd ,
V is f o r c e d t o u s e a n o t h e r r o u t e , a s N o z i c k w i ll a g r e e , s in c e F , in e r e c t i n g
t h e f e n c e , a c t e d i l l e g i t i m a t e l y . N o w c o n s i d e r f a r m e r G , w h o s e s i m i l a r
t r a c t is r e g u l a r l y t r a v e r s e d b y v i l la g e r W , n o t a s o f r i g h t, b u t b y d i n t o f G s
t o l e r a n t n a t u r e . B u t th e n G e r e c t s a n i n s u r m o u n t a b l e f e n c e a r o u n d h i s
l a n d f o r r e a s o n s w h i c h , a ll m e n o f g o o d w i ll w o u l d a g r e e , j u s t i fy h i m i n
d o i n g s o . A c c o r d i n g t o N o z i c k , W m a y n o t t r u l y s a y t h a t , l i k e V h e i s n o w
f o r c e d t o u s e a n o t h e r r o u t e . B u t t h e e x a m p l e s , t h o u g h d i f f er e n t , d o n o t s o
c o n t r a s t a s t o m a k e t h a t s t a t e m e n t f a l s e . W is n o l e s s f o r c e d t o c h a n g e h i s
r o u t e t h a n V is . ( 9) i s f a l s e e v e n i f - w h a t , w i t h F r a n k f u r t , I d e n y - ( 8 ) i s
t r u e , a n d t h e t h e s i s t h a t Z i s f o r c e d t o p l a c e h is l a b o u r p o w e r a t t h e
d i sp o s a l o f s o m e o r o t h e r m e m b e r o f t h e c a p it a li s t cl as s is r e s o u n d i n g l y
s u s t a i n e d .
N o z i c k s c la i m a b o u t Z is s o im p l a u s i b l e t h a t i t m a y s e e m p u z z l i n g ,
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
17/19
H O W P T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L IB E R T Y 2
c o m i n g a s i t d o e s f r o m a n e x t r e m e l y a c u t e t h i n k e r . 25 C a n i t b e t h a t h e is
d r i v e n t o i t b e c a u s e i t o c c u p i e s a s t r a t e g i c p l a c e i n h i s d e f e n s e o f
l i b e r t a r i a n c a p i t a l i s m ? H o w i s l i b e r t a r i a n c a p i t a l i s m
libertarian
i f i t
e r o d e s t h e l i b e r t y o f a la r g e c l as s o f p e o p l e ?
S ti ll, w e c a n i m a g i n e N o z i c k g r a n t i n g t h a t Z is f o r c e d t o w o r k f o r a
c a p i ta l is t , a n d a t t e m p t i n g t o r e c o u p h i s p o s i t i o n a s f o l lo w s : Z i s i n d e e d s o
f o r c e d , b u t s in c e w h a t b r i n g s i t a b o u t t h a t h e i s is a s e q u e n c e o f le g i t i m a t e
t r a n s a c t i o n s , t h e r e i s n o m o r a l c a s e a g a i n s t h i s b e i n g s o f o r c e d , n o
in jus t i ce i n it . (C f . (1 ) an d (2 ), p . 7 abo ve) .
T h i s w o u l d b e l e s s i m p r e s s i v e t h a n t h e o r i g i n a l c l a i m . N o z i c k i s i n a
s t r o n g e r p o s i t io n - c o u l d h e b u t s u s t a in i t - w h e n h e h o l d s t h a t c a p i t a li s m
d o e s n o t d e p r iv e w o r k e r s o f f r e e d o m t h a n i f h e g r a n ts t h e w o r k e r is f o r c e d
t o s u b o r d i n a t e h i m s e l f y e t i n s is ts t h a t e v e n s o h is s i tu a t i o n , b e i n g j u s t l y
g e n e r a t e d , i s, h o w e v e r r e g r e t t a b l e , u n e x c e p t i o n a b l e . f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t
o f j u s ti c e . F o r t h e o r i g i n a l c l a i m , if t r u e , e n t i t l e s N o z i c k t o s a y , g i v e n h is
o t h e r t h e s e s , t h a t c a p i t a li s m i s n o t o n l y a j u s t b u t a l s o a f r e e s o c i e t y ; w h i l e
t h e r e v i s e d c l a i m m a k e s h i m s a y t h a t c a p i t a l is m i s j u s t, b u t n o t e n t i r e l y
f r e e . W h e n Z is a c c u r a t e l y d e s c r i b e d c a p i t a l is m i s l es s a t t r a c ti v e , w h a t -
e v e r w e m a y s a y a b o u t i t f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f ju s ti c e.
T u r n i n g t o t h a t s t a n d p o i n t , a n d b e a r i n g Z i n m i n d , w h a t s h o u l d w e s a y
a b o u t N o z i c k s i m p o r t a n t t h es is ( 1 )? I t s e e m s r e a s o n a b l e t o a d d t o t h e
c o n s t r a i n t s o n j u s t a c q u i s i t i o n a p r o v i s i o n t h a t n o o n e m a y s o a c q u i r e
g o o d s t h a t o t h e r s s u f f e r s e v e r e l o ss o f l i b e r t y a s a r e s u l t . W e m i g h t , t h a t i s,
accept
t h e s is (1 ) b u t e x t e n d t h e c o n d i t i o n s st e p s m u s t m e e t t o b e j u s t , a n d
t h u s r e j e c t c a p i t a l i s m . 26
A l t e r n a t i v e l y , w e m i g h t g r a n t , i n c o n c e s s i v e s p i r i t , t h a t t h e r e i s n o
t r a n s a c t i o n a l in j u s t i c e ( n o u n j u s t s t ep ) i n th e g e n e r a t i o n o f Z s p o s i t io n ,
b u t
reject
( 1) , a n d c o n t e n d t h a t t h e g e n e r a t i v e p r o c e s s m u s t b e r e g u l a t e d ,
a t t h e c o s t o f s o m e i n j u s ti c e , t o p r e v e n t i t i s su i n g in v e r y u n j u s t r e s u l ts .
N o z i c k w o u l d i n v o k e s id e c o n s t r a i n ts a g a i n s t th a t , b u t t h e y l a c k a u t h o r i t y
( s e e p p . 1 6 - 1 7 a b o v e ) .
W h a t e v e r o p t i o n w e t a k e - a n d t h e r e a r e o t h e r s - i t s h o u l d n o w b e c le a r
t h a t l i b e r t a r i a n c a p i t a l i s m s a c r if i c e s l i b e r t y t o c a p i ta l i s m , a t r u t h i ts
a d v o c a t e s a r e a b l e t o d e n y o n l y b e c a u s e t h e y a re p r e p a r e d t o a b u s e t h e
l a n g u a g e o f f r e e d o m . 27
Univers ity o l lege Lo ndo n
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
18/19
2 2 G . A C O H E N
N O T E S
1 G e o r g e P l e k h a n o v , T h e
Development o f the Monist View o f History,
M o s c o w , 1 9 5 6 , p p .
9 4 - 9 5 ( m y e m p h a s i s ) . P l e k h a n o v p r o c e e d s t o a s s o c ia t e h im s e l f w i t h a n o t h e r p o i n t o f v i ew ,
o n e w h i c h i s d e f e n d e d i n t h is p a p e r .
2 J e a n - B a p t i s t e S a y ,
A Trea gse on Poli tical Economy,
Phi l ade l ph i a , 1834 , p . l i i i (my
e m p h a s i s ) .
3 F o r a m o r e r o u n d e d t r e a t m e n t o f t h e b o o k , s e e T h o m a s N a g e l ' s e x c e ll e n t r e v ie w ,
' L i b e rt a r ia n i s m W i t h o u t F o u n d a t i o n s ' , Yale La w Journal , N o v e m b e r , 1 9 7 5 .
4 A n d o t h e r s , s u c h a s A m e r i c a n l i b e r al s , b u t o u r c o n c e r n i s w i t h t h e a p p l i c a ti o n o f t h e
a r g u m e n t t o s o c i a l i s m .
5 Anarchy, State and Utopia,
N e w Y o r k , 1 9 7 4 , p p . 1 6 1 - 1 6 2 . A l l f u t u r e r e fe r e n c e s t o
N o z i c k , e x c e p t t h e o n e i n N o t e 2 3 , a r e t o t h i s b o o k .
6 I t i s , a c c o r d i n g l y , u n c l e a r t o m e t h a t , a s N a g e l m a i n t a i n s
(op cit,
p . 147) , Noz i ck i s
u n f a i t h f u l t o h i s o w n i n i t i a l d e s c r i p t i o n o f D I : s e e p . 1 3 o f t h i s p a p e r .
7 S o m e m i g h t s ay t h i s i s o n e o f th e m , b u t I w o u l d d i s a g r e e :
( 4 ) W h a t e v e r a r i s e s f r o m a j u s t s i t u a t i o n a s a r e s u l t o f f u l ly v o l u n t a r y t r a n s a c t i o n s
w h o s e t r a n s a g e n t s k n o w i n a d v a n c e t h e p r o b a b i l i t i e s o f a l l s i g n i fi c a n tl y d i f f e r e n t
p o s s i b l e o u t c o m e s i s it s e lf j u s t.
s I p r e f e r t h e s e c o n d f o r m u l a t io n , b e i n g p e r s u a d e d t h a t ju s t ic e , v e r y r o u g h l y ,
is
equa l i t y .
( S e e C h r i s t o p h e r A k e , ' J u s t i c e a s E q u a l i t y ' , Philosophy and Public Affairs, N o v e m b e r ,
1975) .
9 M y n e a r - e x c l u s iv e e m p h a s i s o n t h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n in t h e s e q u e l d o e s n o t m e a n I t h i n k
t h e r e a r e n o o t h e r i m p o r t a n t o n e s.
10 R e c a l l t h e t w o w a y s o f ta k i n g N o z i c k , d i s t i n g u i s h e d o n p . 5 a b o v e .
i 1 Nage l (op c ir., p . 1 4 7 ) d i a g n o s e s N o z i c k a s a b o v e , a n d t h i s is h is r e b u t t a l o f N o z i c k , so
d i a g n o s e d .
12 O n c e a g a i n - s e e p . 1 1 a b o v e - t h i s a s s e s s m e n t w il l s e e m h y s t e r i c a l o n l y i f w e f a i l t o t a k e
t h e C h a m b e r l a i n t r a n s a c t i o n a s w e m u s t f o r i t to p o s e a s e r io u s c h a l l en g e , n a m e l y a s a n
e x a m p l e o f s o m e t h i n g w h i c h o c c u r s r e g u l a r l y , o r w il l o c c u r r e g u l a r l y in t h e f u t u r e .
13 I a d d s c a r e - q u o t e s b e c a u s e s o c i a l is m , p r o p e r l y d e f i n e d , i s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t y r a n n y ;
b u t , c o n t r a r y t o w h a t s o m e s o c ia li st s s e e m t o t h i n k , t h a t i s n o a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t t h o s e w h o
s a y t h a t t h e f o r m o f e c o n o m y s o c i a li st s f a v o u r r e q u i r e s t y r a n n y .
14 A c c o r d i n g to M a r x , n o s o c i a l is t r e v o l u t i o n w i l l s u c c e e d u n l e s s c a p i t a l i s t p r o d u c t i o n h a s
a l r e a d y d e v e l o p e d t h e p r o d u c t i v e f o r c e s o f l a b o u r i n g e n e r a l t o a s u f fi c ie n t ly h i g h l e v e l
(Theories o[ Surplus Va lue, V o l u m e I I , M o s c o w , 1 9 6 8 , p . 5 8 0 ) , f a i li n g w h i c h a l l t h e o l d
f il th y b u s i n e s s w o u l d n e c e s s ar i ly b e r e p r o d u c e d (German Ideology, M o s c o w , 1 9 6 4 , p . 4 6 )
i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f r e v o l u t i o n . S e e f u r t h e r t h e e n d o f C h a p t e r V I I o f m y f o r t h c o m i n g
Philosophical Defense of K arl Mar x s Theory of History, O x f o r d a n d P r i n c e t o n , 1 9 7 8 .
15 I s a y ' a t m o s t ' b e c a u s e e v e n t h i s i s p r o b a b l y f a l s e. G i v e n t h e t r u t h o f ( 5 ), p e o p l e c o u l d
f o r m a P a t t e r n M a i n t e n a n c e A s s o c i a ti o n a n d a p p o i n t e x p e r t s to w a t c h o v e r a n d c o r r e c t t h e
p a t t e r n . W i t h p o p u l a r w i l li n g n es s to d o w h a t t h e e x p e r t s s a id , a n d a p r o p e r l y s o p h i s t i c a te d
t e c h n o l o g y f o r d e t e c t i n g d e v i a t i o n s , ( 6 ) a n d ( 7 ) w o u l d b e u n n e c e s s a r y t o p a t t e r n m a i n -
t e n a n c e w i t h o u t c o e r c i o n ( u n l e ss d o i n g w h a t t h e e x p e r t s s a y c o u n t s a s a w a y o f c o o r d i n a t i n g
ac t i on , i n wh i ch ca se (7) is r equ i r ed i n t he ab ov e fan t a sy , bu t i t is e a s i l y sa t i sf i ed) .
16 Q u a l i f i c a ti o n s i m p o s e d o n t h i s s t a t e m e n t b y t h e ' L o c k e i a n P r o v i s o ' ( p p . 1 7 4 - 1 8 3 ) a r e
n o t r e l e v a n t h e r e .
8/10/2019 Cohen 1977
19/19
H O W P A T T E R N S P R E S E R V E L I B E R T Y
3
57 ,, ' B u t i s n ' t j u s t ic e t o b e t e m p e r e d w i t h c o m p a s s i o n ? ' N o t b y t h e g u n s o f th e s t a te . W h e n
p r i v a t e p e r s o n s c h o o s e t o t r a n s f e r r e s o u r c e s t o h e l p o t h e r s , t h is f it s w i t h i n t h e e n t i t l e m e n t
c o n c e p t i o n o f j u s t i c e ( p . 3 4 8 ) . ' F i t s w i t h i n ' is e v a s i v e . T h e c h o i c e ' f it s ' b e c a u s e i t i s a c h o i c e ,
n o t b e c a u s e o f i ts c o n t e n t . F o r N o z i c k t h e r e i s n o m o r e j u s t i c e in a m i l l i o n a i r e ' s g i v i n g a f iv e
d o l l a r b i l l t o a s t a r v i n g c h i l d t h a n i n h i s u s i n g i t t o l i g h t h i s c ig a r .
F o r s u b t l e c o m m e n t s o n N o z i c k ' s f a ls e ly e x c lu s iv e a n d e x h a u s t i v e d i s t in c t i o n b e t w e e n
c o m p u l s o r y a n d v o l u n t a r y d o n a t i o n , s e e N a g e l, op c i t . , p p . 1 4 5 - 1 4 6 .
18 T h e h y p o t h e s i s e d c o n t i n g e n c y h a s b e e n a c t u a l i s e d . M a r k e t f r e e d o m i s l e ss th a n i t w a s ,
p a r t l y b e c a u s e , h a d t h e b o u r g e o i s s ta t e n o t i m p o s e d r e s t r i c t i o n s o n i t, it s s u r v i v a l w o u l d h a v e
b e e n j e o p a r d i z e d .
59 Ter t ium datur , b u t l e t t h a t p a s s .
20 N o t e , t h o u g h , t h a t w h a t N o z i c k i n i ti a l ly c o n t e n d s a g a i n s t i s v io la t ing r igh ts to r educ e the
violation o f r ights ,
w h e r e a s i n w h a t f o l l o w s h i s t a r g e t i s
v io la t ing r igh t s to expand s oc ia l
welfare. H e is u n c o n v i n c i n g o n b o t h c o u n t s , b u t o n e w h o a g r e e s w i t h h im a b o u t ' o v e r a l l
s o c ia l g o o d ' c o u l d s t il l p r e s s t h e o p e n i n g q u e s t i o n s o f t h e s e c t i o n .
2 l F o r e l a b o r a t i o n , s ee N a g e l op cit , p p . 1 4 2 - 1 4 3 ) , w h o t a k e s N o z ic k to b e p r o p o u n d i n g B .
2 2 T h e c o n c e p t o f a pow er wh ich cor res ponds to a r igh t is e x p l ic a t e d b r i e fl y i n m y ' O n S o m e
C r i t i c i s m s o f H i s t o r i c a l M a t e r i a l i s m ' , P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e A r i s t o t e l ia n S o c i e ty , S u p p . V o l . ,
1 9 7 0 , p p . 1 3 3 - 1 3 5 , a n d a t l e n g t h i n C h a p t e r V I I I o f t h e b o o k m e n t i o n e d i n N o t e 1 4 a b o v e .
T h e b a s i c i d e a : p o w e r p c o r r e s p o n d s t o r i g h t r i f a n d o n l y if w h a t X i s d e j u r e a b l e to d o w h e n
h e h a s r i s w h a t h e i s
d e f a c t o
a b l e t o d o w h e n h e h a s p.
23 S e e N o z i c k , 'C o e r c i o n ' , i n P h i lo s o p hy , S c i e n c e a n d M e t h o d : E s s a y s i n H o n o u r o f E r n e s t
N a g e l , N e w Y o r k , 1 9 6 9 , p . 4 4 6 . I d e r iv e t h e c l a im f o r m u l a t e d a b o v e f r o m p r i n c i p l e ( 7 ) o f
t h e ' C o e r c i o n ' e s s a y o n t h e b a s i s o f N o z i c k ' s c o m m i t m e n t t o : Z i s f o r c e d t o d o A i f a n d o n l y
i f t h e r e is a p e r s o n P w h o f o r c e s Z t o d o A . N o z i c k t h i n k s p r i n c i p l e (7 ) i s p e r h a p s o n l y
r o u g h l y t r u e , b u t r o u g h t r u t h w i ll d o f o r p r e s e n t p u r p o s e s .
24 ' C o e r c i o n a n d M o r a l R e s p o n s i b i l it y ' , i n H o n d e r i c h ( ed .) , E s s a y s o n F r e ed o m o f A c t i o n ,
L o n d o n , 1 9 7 3 , p . 8 4 .
25 T h o s e w h o h a v e r e a d N o z i c k w i ll k n o w t h a t t h i s d e s c r i p t io n i s n o t i r o n ic a l, F o r a s h o r t
p r o o f o f N o z i c k ' s ac u i ty , s ee t h e f o o t n o t e o n p p . 2 3 9 - 2 4 0 o f A n a r c h y .
2 6 I t is im m a t e r i a l if t h i s y i e l d s w h a t N o z i c k w o u l d c a ll a ' g i m m i c k y ' r e a d i n g o f ( l ) ( p . 1 5 7 ) .
27 I t h a n k G e r a l d D w o r k i n , T e d H o n d e r i c h a n d M i c h a e l S lo t e f o r u se f u l c o m m e n t s o n a
d r a f t o f t h i s p a p e r .
M a n u s c r i p t re c e i v e d 1 4 J u n e 1 9 7 6