F42W Political and Economic Foundations of Capitalism and Socialism: The Moral Debate between Locke and Marx – Part 1 (Hybrid/In-Person)

In-Person | Available (Membership Required)

9/17/2025-12/10/2025
11:15 AM-12:45 PM EDT on Wed
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F42W Political and Economic Foundations of Capitalism and Socialism: The Moral Debate between Locke and Marx – Part 1 (Hybrid/In-Person)

In-Person | Available (Membership Required)

[NEW COURSE] [MULTI-PART SERIES] For Locke competitive economic acquisitiveness is the core of justice and civic morality. For Marx the moral society is “an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.” We will address these, and more, questions: Are all human beings naturally equal? Can liberal government combine individual freedom and political authority? By what right does the majority govern? Can the rule of law and separation of powers secure individual rights? Can socialism be democratic?  Discussion, Lecture

  • *This registration item is HYBRID/IN-PERSON, which means that you can attend either in-person or via Zoom. DO NOT also register for the Zoom section of this course.*

  • Required Texts: Second Treatise of Government by John Locke, ed. C.B. Macpherson, ISBN 091514493X and The Marx-Engels Reader, 2nd Edition, ed. Robert C. Tucker, ISBN 039309040X

Walt Soffer

Walt Soffer, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of Philosophy at SUNY Geneseo and recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. His teaching and publications have been principally in the areas of ancient philosophy, modern philosophy, phenomenology and existentialism, history of political philosophy, philosophy of religion, interdisciplinary humanities, and ethics.