Robert Paul Wolff

Robert Paul Wolff (December 27, 1933 – January 6, 2025) was an American political philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He wrote widely on topics in political philosophy, including Marxism, tolerance, political justification, and democracy. Wolff's notable works include "In Defense of Anarchism" (1970), in which he argued that a robust conception of individual autonomy precludes a legitimate state, and "Understanding Rawls" (1977), a critique of John Rawls's "A Theory of Justice." He also authored "The Poverty of Liberalism," "The Ideal of the University," and works on Kant and Karl Marx. Wolff was also known for his transition from the philosophy department to Afro-American studies and for founding University Scholarships for South African Students. He passed away at the age of 91.