In Memoriam: G.A. Cohen (1941-2009)

I am very sorry to report that the distinguished political philosopher and Marx scholar G.A. Cohen died this morning, after suffering what appears to have been a massive stroke some time yesterday afternoon.  Cohen was, at the time of his death, the Emeritus Chichele Professor of Social & Political Theory at Oxford University.  His former Oxford colleague Michael Rosen, now at Harvard, no doubt gives apt expression to what those who knew Jerry Cohen are feeling at this point; he wrote:  "I am, of course, as you will be, utterly shocked that someone so brilliant, kind, funny, loyal, sensitive, passionate, principled and altogether extraordinary has been taken from us so suddenly and unexpectedly."

I will post links to memorial notices as they appear, and may add a few recollections of my own over the next day or two.

 

UPDATE:  Here's a Philosophy Bites interview with Cohen.   (Thanks to Rob Sica for the pointer.)  And a nice remembrance from political theorist Colin Farrelly at Queen's U (Canada).

 

ANOTHER:  Michael Rosen suggested, and I agree, that it might be nice to open comments on this thread for people to share their recollections of Jerry or to comment on the importance and significance of his work and ideas.  As Michael wrote to me:  "A lot of good philosophers have, unfortunately, died recently, but I doubt that there are many who have made such an impact on people with their personality."  Please submit comments only once; they may take awhile to appear.

ONE MORE evocative remembrance from Christopher Bertram (Bristol).

VIA CHRIS BROOKE Cohen on his intellectual career.

AUGUST 7 UPDATE:  There will be a service for Professor Cohen at the chapel of All Souls College, Oxford, at 4pm on Tuesday 11^th August. 

ANOTHER:  A memorial from Jo Wolff (UCL) here.

AND PREDICTABLY, THE CRAZIES get in on the act.   This one has open comments, for those who care to 'reason' with the monomaniacs.  (ADDENDUM 8/13:  The first crazy posted the same smears on his own blog, with comments open.  One commentator calls him out, rather politely under the circumstances.)

AN OBITUARY from The Guardian.  (Thanks to Matt Kramer for the pointer.)

ANOTHER OBITUARY from Times of London.  (Thanks to Matt Kramer and Michael Rosen for this link.)

A CHARMING REMEMBRANCE from a childhood friend.  (Thanks to Chris Morris for the pointer.)

AND ONE MORE:  Alex Callinicos (KCL) in The Socialist Worker.  (Via Michael Rosen.)

A MEMORIAL from Philosophie Magazine (in French).

A LENGTHY REMEMBRANCE with many wonderful anecdotes from a longtime friend, Jerry Dworkin.

ONE MORE (AUGUST 16):  Jonathan Wolff (UCL) talks about Jerry on BBC radio (about eight minutes in).

ANOTHER OBITUARY from The Independent.

AUGUST 22:  The ruling class weighs in with its own memorial!