Michael J. Sandel is an American political philosopher renowned for his exploration of moral and political questions. His work delves deeply into the nature of justice, citizenship, and the public good. Sandel challenges modern liberal conceptions of individual autonomy, emphasizing the significance of social ties and shared values. His analyses prompt reflection on how our personal identities and moral commitments shape our political lives, and how we can foster a more just and cohesive society.
A Harvard professor assesses the role of justice in modern society as well as the moral responsibilities faced by ordinary citizens, weighing a range of issues from euthanasia and abortion to affirmative action and tax structuring.
These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favour of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the promise that "you can make it if you try". And the consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fuelled populist protest, with the triumph of Brexit and election of Donald Trump. Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the polarized politics of our time, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality. Sandel highlights the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success - more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility, and more hospitable to a politics of the common good.
"The world-renowned philosopher and author of the bestselling Justice explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good? These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favor of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the American credo that 'you can make it if you try'. The consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fueled populist protest and extreme polarization, and led to deep distrust of both government and our fellow citizens--leaving us morally unprepared to face the profound challenges of our time. World-renowned philosopher Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality. Sandel shows the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgment it imposes on those left behind, and traces the dire consequences across a wide swath of American life. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success--more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of work. The Tyranny of Merit points us toward a hopeful vision of a new politics of the common good"--
This collection of essays addresses liberal fears about moral and religious arguments in public discourse, arguing that such discussions can coexist with progressive goals in a pluralistic society, promoting tolerance rather than coercion.
Breakthroughs in genetics present us with a promise and a predicament. Although most people find at least some forms of genetic engineering disquieting, it is not easy to articulate why. This work explores these and other moral quandaries connected with the quest to perfect ourselves and our children.
"Should we pay children to read books or to get good grades? Should we allow corporations to pay for the right to pollute the atmosphere? Is it ethical to pay people to test risky new drugs or to donate their organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars? Auctioning admission to elite universities? Selling citizenship to immigrants willing to pay? In What Money Can't Buy, Michael J. Sandel takes on one of the biggest ethical questions of our time: Is there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? If so, how can we prevent market values from reaching into spheres of life where they don't belong? What are the moral limits of markets? In recent decades, market values have crowded out nonmarket norms in almost every aspect of life---medicine, education, government, law, art, sports, even family life and personal relations. Without quite realizing it, Sandel argues, we have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. Is this where we want to be? ... What is the proper role of markets in a democratic society---and how can we protect the moral and civic goods that markets don't honor and that money can't buy?"--Back cover
In recent decades, market values have impinged on almost every aspect of life - medicine, education, government, law, even family life. We have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. In What Money Can't Buy Michael Sandel asks: Isn't there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? And how do we protect the things that really matter? 'Brilliant, easily readable, beautifully delivered and often funny . . . an indispensable book.' David Aaronovitch, The Times 'The indispensable voice of reason.' John Gray 'A star philosopher.' Diane Coyle, Independent 'So patient and accumulative in its argument and examples.' John Lanchester 'A wake-up call.' Rowan Williams, Prospect 'Confronting and deeply moving.' Decca Aitkenhead, Guardian 'The world's most relevant living philosopher.' Newsweek 'Currently the most effective communicator of ideas.' Guardian
Exploring the foundations of a liberal society, the book examines the challenge of governing without imposing a singular vision of the good life. It questions whether principles of justice can exist independently of specific values, and the implications of this for justice as both a moral and political ideal. Michael Sandel provides a critical analysis of contemporary liberalism, enhanced in this edition with a new introduction and a final chapter addressing John Rawls' later work.
Twenty-five years after his prescient Democracy's Discontent, Michael Sandel updates his classic work for our more fractious age. He shows how, since the 1990s, Democrats and Republicans embraced a market faith that led to the toxic politics of our time. To rescue democracy, he argues, we must reimagine the economy and revitalize the civic project.