Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This chapter contrasts the mutualist interpretation with the parallelist interpretation of Marx’s vision of the good society defended by Jon Elster and G. A. Cohen. According to the parallelist interpretation, self-realization consists in the full and free development of the powers of the individual and need not constitutively involve satisfying the needs of others. The chapter defends the mutualist interpretation over the parallelist interpretation on two grounds. First, it argues that the textual support for the parallelist interpretation is weak. Second, it argues that the parallelist interpretation leaves Marx open to powerful objections—objections that the mutualist interpretation either avoids or is better equipped to address.</jats:p>