In May 1977, in an essay entitled "Robert Nozick and Wilt Chamberlain: How Patterns Preserve Liberty," the socialist G. A. Cohen (1941-2009) criticized an argument by the libertarian Robert Nozick (1938-2002). Late in his essay, Cohen wrote:
Nozick's claim about Z [a man who is faced with a choice between working for a capitalist and starving] is so implausible that it may seem puzzling, coming as it does from an extremely acute thinker.
At this point, Cohen dropped the following footnote:
Those who have read Nozick will know that this description is not ironical. For a short proof of Nozick's acuity, see the footnote on pp. 239-240 of Anarchy. [Anarchy, State, and Utopia (New York: Basic Books, 1974)]
I reproduce Nozick's text and footnote:
Click to enlarge.
