Marx: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

by Peter Singer

The alternative conception of freedom Marx espoused does, however, face a difficulty: how do we obtain the cooperation of each individual in the joint endeavour of controlling our economy and our society? This unsolved—and largely unaddressed—problem in Marx’s critique of liberal freedom is one of the threads that link his theory with the murderously authoritarian regimes that subsequently purported to follow his ideas. Return for a moment to our example of the commuters. They hold a meeting. All agree that it would be better to leave their cars at home. They part, rejoicing at the prospect of no more traffic jams. But in the privacy of their own homes, some reason to themselves: ‘If everyone else is going to take the bus tomorrow, the roads will be empty. So I’ll take my car. Then I’ll have the convenience of door-to-door transportation and the advantage of a traffic-free run.’ From a self-interested point of view this reasoning is sound. As long as most take the bus, a few others can free ride on the socially minded behaviour of the majority, without giving up anything themselves. What should the majority do? Should they leave it up to the conscience of each individual to decide whether to play their part? If they do, there is a risk that the system will break down—once a few take their own cars, others will soon follow, for no one likes to be taken advantage of. Or should the majority attempt to coerce the minority into taking the bus? That can be done in the name of fr...