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Michael Sandel's "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" – A Deep Dive into Moral Philosophy
Are you grappling with ethical dilemmas? Do you find yourself questioning the fairness of societal structures and individual actions? Then Michael Sandel's "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" is a book you need to explore. This insightful work isn't just a dense academic text; it's an engaging exploration of moral philosophy that challenges our assumptions and encourages critical thinking. This blog post will delve into the core arguments presented in Sandel's book, exploring its key themes and providing you with a solid understanding of its enduring relevance. We’ll unpack the major ethical frameworks discussed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, leaving you with a framework for engaging in more nuanced ethical considerations.
The Three Pillars of Sandel's Argument: Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, and Virtue Ethics
Sandel masterfully presents three dominant ethical frameworks throughout his book: Utilitarianism, Libertarianism, and Virtue Ethics. Understanding these frameworks is crucial to grasping the book's central message.
2.1 Utilitarianism: The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number
Utilitarianism, a cornerstone of Sandel's discussion, argues that the morally right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being. He presents compelling case studies, such as the trolley problem, to illustrate the complexities and potential shortcomings of this seemingly straightforward approach. While seemingly rational, utilitarianism can lead to difficult choices where individual rights might be sacrificed for the "greater good." Sandel expertly unpacks the inherent tension between individual liberties and collective benefit, forcing the reader to confront the limitations of this ethical system.
2.2 Libertarianism: Individual Rights and Free Markets
Libertarianism, another dominant perspective examined, emphasizes individual rights and limited government intervention. Sandel explores the implications of this philosophy, highlighting its emphasis on free markets and individual autonomy. He argues that while this approach protects individual freedom, it can also lead to significant inequalities and social injustices. The discussion around issues like market justice, wealth distribution, and the morality of affirmative action provides a compelling counterpoint to the purely utilitarian viewpoint.
2.3 Virtue Ethics: Cultivating Good Character
Sandel then introduces the concept of virtue ethics, focusing on cultivating good character traits rather than adhering strictly to rules or maximizing overall happiness. This perspective shifts the focus from the consequences of actions to the moral character of the individual performing the action. He examines how virtues such as honesty, compassion, and fairness contribute to a just society. This approach offers a more nuanced and context-dependent framework, acknowledging the importance of human flourishing and the development of good character.
Beyond the Frameworks: Applying Ethical Reasoning to Real-World Issues
Sandel's brilliance lies in his ability to connect these abstract ethical theories to tangible, real-world issues. He expertly utilizes case studies to illustrate the complexities and practical implications of each framework. These examples range from debates about affirmative action and same-sex marriage to discussions about the morality of organ markets and the ethics of genetic engineering.
3.1 The Case of Affirmative Action: A Balancing Act
The discussion surrounding affirmative action serves as a powerful example of the interplay between these ethical frameworks. He highlights the tension between promoting diversity and ensuring equality of opportunity, forcing the reader to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of policies designed to address historical injustices.
3.2 The Moral Limits of Markets: Beyond the Exchange
Sandel expertly tackles the moral limits of markets, questioning whether everything should be subject to market forces. His discussions on issues such as the commodification of human organs and the potential for market-based solutions to social problems illuminate the ethical complexities of assigning monetary value to inherently non-market goods.
Conclusion: A Journey Towards Ethical Awareness
"Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?" is not a book that provides easy answers. Instead, it encourages critical thinking, prompting readers to engage in thoughtful reflection about their own moral beliefs and values. By exploring diverse ethical frameworks and applying them to real-world scenarios, Sandel compels us to move beyond simplistic solutions and embrace the complexities of ethical decision-making. The book leaves readers with a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between individual morality and the construction of a just society. It's a journey that is both intellectually stimulating and profoundly impactful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Sandel's book suitable for someone without a philosophy background? Yes, Sandel writes in a clear and accessible style, making complex philosophical concepts understandable to a broad audience. The book is engaging and uses real-world examples to illustrate key ideas.
2. What are the main criticisms of Sandel's book? Some critics argue that Sandel's presentation of the different ethical frameworks is overly simplistic and that he doesn't fully explore the nuances of each perspective. Others contend that his focus on virtue ethics overshadows the importance of other ethical considerations.
3. How can I apply the concepts from Sandel's book to my daily life? By consciously considering the ethical implications of your actions and decisions. Ask yourself: What are the potential consequences of my actions? Do my actions align with my values? Am I treating others with respect and fairness?
4. Are there any other books similar to Sandel's "Justice"? Yes, many other books explore similar themes in moral philosophy. Some suggestions include "A Theory of Justice" by John Rawls, "Ethics in the Real World" by Peter Singer, and "The Moral Landscape" by Sam Harris.
5. Is there a specific takeaway message from the book? The central message is the importance of engaging in thoughtful ethical reflection and the need to consider multiple perspectives when making moral judgments. It's not about finding easy answers, but about developing a more sophisticated and nuanced understanding of ethics.
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Justice Michael J. Sandel, 2009-09-15 A renowned Harvard professor's brilliant, sweeping, inspiring account of the role of justice in our society--and of the moral dilemmas we face as citizens What are our obligations to others as people in a free society? Should government tax the rich to help the poor? Is the free market fair? Is it sometimes wrong to tell the truth? Is killing sometimes morally required? Is it possible, or desirable, to legislate morality? Do individual rights and the common good conflict? Michael J. Sandel's Justice course is one of the most popular and influential at Harvard. Up to a thousand students pack the campus theater to hear Sandel relate the big questions of political philosophy to the most vexing issues of the day, and this fall, public television will air a series based on the course. Justice offers readers the same exhilarating journey that captivates Harvard students. This book is a searching, lyrical exploration of the meaning of justice, one that invites readers of all political persuasions to consider familiar controversies in fresh and illuminating ways. Affirmative action, same-sex marriage, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, national service, patriotism and dissent, the moral limits of markets—Sandel dramatizes the challenge of thinking through these con?icts, and shows how a surer grasp of philosophy can help us make sense of politics, morality, and our own convictions as well. Justice is lively, thought-provoking, and wise—an essential new addition to the small shelf of books that speak convincingly to the hard questions of our civic life. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Justice Michael J. Sandel, 2010-08-17 Examines the meaning of justice in a variety of situations and asks the reader to morally and politically reflect on each topic. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Justice Michael J. Sandel, 2007-09-27 Moreover, Sandel's organization of the readings and his own commentaries allow readers to engage with a variety of pressing contemporary issues. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: What Money Can't Buy Michael J. Sandel, 2012-04-24 In What Money Can't Buy, renowned political philosopher Michael J. Sandel rethinks the role that markets and money should play in our society. Should we pay children to read books or to get good grades? Should we put a price on human life to decide how much pollution to allow? Is it ethical to pay people to test risky new drugs or to donate their organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars, outsourcing inmates to for-profit prisons, auctioning admission to elite universities, or selling citizenship to immigrants willing to pay? In his New York Times bestseller What Money Can't Buy, Michael J. Sandel takes up one of the biggest ethical questions of our time: Isn't 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? Over recent decades, market values have crowded out nonmarket norms in almost every aspect of life. Without quite realizing it, Sandel argues, we have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. In Justice, an international bestseller, Sandel showed himself to be a master at illuminating, with clarity and verve, the hard moral questions we confront in our everyday lives. Now, in What Money Can't Buy, he provokes a debate that's been missing in our market-driven age: What is the proper role of markets in a democratic society, and how can we protect the moral and civic goods that markets do not honor and money cannot buy? |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Classics of Moral and Political Theory Michael L. Morgan, 2011-09-15 The fifth edition of Michael L. Morgan's Classics of Moral and Political Theory broadens the scope and increases the versatility of this landmark anthology by offering new selections from Aristotle's Politics, Aquinas' Disputed Questions on Virtue and Treatise on Law, as well as the entirety of Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration, Kant's To Perpetual Peace, and Nietzsche's On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Encountering China Michael J. Sandel, Paul J. D'Ambrosio, 2018-01-08 In the West, Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel is a thinker of unusual prominence. In China, he’s a phenomenon, greeted by vast crowds. China Daily reports that he has acquired a popularity “usually reserved for Hollywood movie stars.” China Newsweek declared him the “most influential foreign figure” of the year. In Sandel the Chinese have found a guide through the ethical dilemmas created by the nation’s swift embrace of a market economy—a guide whose communitarian ideas resonate with aspects of China’s own rich and ancient philosophical traditions. Chinese citizens often describe a sense that, in sprinting ahead, they have bounded past whatever barriers once held back the forces of corruption and moral disregard. The market economy has lifted millions from poverty but done little to define ultimate goals for individuals or the nation. Is the market all there is? In this context, Sandel’s charismatic, interactive lecturing style, which roots moral philosophy in real-world scenarios, has found an audience struggling with questions of their responsibility to one another. Encountering China brings together leading experts in Confucian and Daoist thought to explore the connections and tensions revealed in this unlikely episode of Chinese engagement with the West. The result is a profound examination of diverse ideas about the self, justice, community, gender, and public good. With a foreword by Evan Osnos that considers Sandel’s fame and the state of moral dialogue in China, the book will itself be a major contribution to the debates that Sandel sparks in East and West alike. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Globalization: A Very Short Introduction Manfred B. Steger, 2020-05-28 We live today in an interconnected world in which ordinary people can became instant online celebrities to fans thousands of miles away, in which religious leaders can influence millions globally, in which humans are altering the climate and environment, and in which complex social forces intersect across continents. This is globalization. In the fifth edition of his bestselling Very Short Introduction Manfred B. Steger considers the major dimensions of globalization: economic, political, cultural, ideological, and ecological. He looks at its causes and effects, and engages with the hotly contested question of whether globalization is, ultimately, a good or a bad thing. From climate change to the Ebola virus, Donald Trump to Twitter, trade wars to China's growing global profile, Steger explores today's unprecedented levels of planetary integration as well as the recent challenges posed by resurgent national populism. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Public Philosophy Michael J. Sandel, Anne T and Robert M Bass Professor of Government Michael J Sandel, 2005 In this book, Michael Sandel takes up some of the hotly contested moral and political issues of our time, including affirmative action, assisted suicide, abortion, gay rights, stem cell research, the meaning of toleration and civility, the gap between rich and poor, the role of markets, and the place of religion in public life. He argues that the most prominent ideals in our political life--individual rights and freedom of choice--do not by themselves provide an adequate ethic for a democratic society. Sandel calls for a politics that gives greater emphasis to citizenship, community, and civic virtue, and that grapples more directly with questions of the good life. Liberals often worry that inviting moral and religious argument into the public sphere runs the risk of intolerance and coercion. These essays respond to that concern by showing that substantive moral discourse is not at odds with progressive public purposes, and that a pluralist society need not shrink from engaging the moral and religious convictions that its citizens bring to public life. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Tyranny of Merit Michael J. Sandel, 2020-09-15 A Times Literary Supplement’s Book of the Year 2020 A New Statesman's Best Book of 2020 A Bloomberg's Best Book of 2020 A Guardian Best Book About Ideas of 2020 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 judgement 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. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Case against Perfection Michael J Sandel, 2009-06-30 Breakthroughs in genetics present us with a promise and a predicament. The promise is that we will soon be able to treat and prevent a host of debilitating diseases. The predicament is that our newfound genetic knowledge may enable us to manipulate our nature—to enhance our genetic traits and those of our children. Although most people find at least some forms of genetic engineering disquieting, it is not easy to articulate why. What is wrong with re-engineering our nature? The Case against Perfection explores these and other moral quandaries connected with the quest to perfect ourselves and our children. Michael Sandel argues that the pursuit of perfection is flawed for reasons that go beyond safety and fairness. The drive to enhance human nature through genetic technologies is objectionable because it represents a bid for mastery and dominion that fails to appreciate the gifted character of human powers and achievements. Carrying us beyond familiar terms of political discourse, this book contends that the genetic revolution will change the way philosophers discuss ethics and will force spiritual questions back onto the political agenda. In order to grapple with the ethics of enhancement, we need to confront questions largely lost from view in the modern world. Since these questions verge on theology, modern philosophers and political theorists tend to shrink from them. But our new powers of biotechnology make these questions unavoidable. Addressing them is the task of this book, by one of America’s preeminent moral and political thinkers. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Liberalism and the Limits of Justice Michael J. Sandel, 1998-03-28 Previous edition published in 1982. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: A Theory of Justice John RAWLS, 2009-06-30 Though the revised edition of A Theory of Justice, published in 1999, is the definitive statement of Rawls's view, so much of the extensive literature on Rawls's theory refers to the first edition. This reissue makes the first edition once again available for scholars and serious students of Rawls's work. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Ways of Judgement Oliver O'Donovan, 2008-01-29 In this probing book Oliver O'Donovan extends the exploration into the correspondence between theology and politics that he began in The Desire of the Nations. While that earlier work took as its starting point the biblical proclamation of God's authority, The Ways of Judgment approaches political theology from the political side. Responsive to developments such as the uncertain role of the United Nations after the Cold War and the expansion of the European Union, O'Donovan also draws on the extensive tradition of Christian political thought and a range of contemporary theologians. Rather than supposing, as does some political theology, that the right political orientations are well understood and that theological beliefs should be renegotiated to fit them, O'Donovan considers contemporary social and political realities to be impenetrably obscure and elusive. Finding the gospel proclamation luminous by contrast, O'Donovan sheds light from the Christian faith upon the intricate challenge of seeking the good in late-modern Western society. Pursuing his analysis in three movements, O'Donovan first considers the paradigmatic political act, the act of judgment, and then takes up the question of forming political institutions through representation. Finally, he tackles the opposition between political institutions and the church, provocatively investigating how Christians can be the community instructed by Jesus to judge not. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Resurrection and Moral Order Oliver O'Donovan, 2020-05-21 In this truly seminal work, the Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Oxford University illuminates the distinctive nature of Christian ethics with profound thought and massive learning. By grounding Christian ethics in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he avoids both a revealed ethics that has no contact with the created order and one that is purely naturalistic. For this second edition Professor O'Donovan has added a prologue in which he enters into dialogue with John Finnis, Martin Honecker, Karl Barth and Stanley Hauerwas. Essential reading for advanced students of theology and ethics and their teachers. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Anarchy, State, and Utopia Robert Nozick, 1974 Robert Nozicka s Anarchy, State, and Utopia is a powerful, philosophical challenge to the most widely held political and social positions of our age ---- liberal, socialist and conservative. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: How Markets Fail Cassidy John, John Cassidy, 2013-01-31 How did we get to where we are? John Cassidy shows that the roots of our most recent financial failure lie not with individuals, but with an idea - the idea that markets are inherently rational. He gives us the big picture behind the financial headlines, tracing the rise and fall of free market ideology from Adam Smith to Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan. Full of wit, sense and, above all, a deeper understanding, How Markets Fail argues for the end of 'utopian' economics, and the beginning of a pragmatic, reality-based way of thinking. A very good history of economic thought Economist How Markets Fail offers a brilliant intellectual framework . . . fine work New York Times An essential, grittily intellectual, yet compelling guide to the financial debacle of 2009 Geordie Greig, Evening Standard A powerful argument . . . Cassidy makes a compelling case that a return to hands-off economics would be a disaster BusinessWeek This book is a well constructed, thoughtful and cogent account of how capitalism evolved to its current form Telegraph Books of the Year recommendation John Cassidy ... describe[s] that mix of insight and madness that brought the world's system to its knees FT, Book of the Year recommendation Anyone who enjoys a good read can safely embark on this tour with Cassidy as their guide . . . Like his colleague Malcolm Gladwell [at the New Yorker], Cassidy is able to lead us with beguiling lucidity through unfamiliar territory New Statesman John Cassidy has covered economics and finance at The New Yorker magazine since 1995, writing on topics ranging from Alan Greenspan to the Iraqi oil industry and English journalism. He is also now a Contributing Editor at Portfolio where he writes the monthly Economics column. Two of his articles have been nominated for National Magazine Awards: an essay on Karl Marx, which appeared in October, 1997, and an account of the death of the British weapons scientist David Kelly, which was published in December, 2003. He has previously written for Sunday Times in as well as the New York Post, where he edited the Business section and then served as the deputy editor. In 2002, Cassidy published his first book, Dot.Con. He lives in New York. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Democracy’s Discontent Michael J. Sandel, 1998-02-06 On American democracy |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Greed Is Dead Paul Collier, John Kay, 2020-07-30 Two of the UK's leading economists call for an end to extreme individualism as the engine of prosperity 'provocative but thought-provoking and nuanced' Telegraph Throughout history, successful societies have created institutions which channel both competition and co-operation to achieve complex goals of general benefit. These institutions make the difference between societies that thrive and those paralyzed by discord, the difference between prosperous and poor economies. Such societies are pluralist but their pluralism is disciplined. Successful societies are also rare and fragile. We could not have built modernity without the exceptional competitive and co-operative instincts of humans, but in recent decades the balance between these instincts has become dangerously skewed: mutuality has been undermined by an extreme individualism which has weakened co-operation and polarized our politics. Collier and Kay show how a reaffirmation of the values of mutuality could refresh and restore politics, business and the environments in which people live. Politics could reverse the moves to extremism and tribalism; businesses could replace the greed that has degraded corporate culture; the communities and decaying places that are home to many could overcome despondency and again be prosperous and purposeful. As the world emerges from an unprecedented crisis we have the chance to examine society afresh and build a politics beyond individualism. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Doing Justice Preet Bharara, 2019-03-19 *A New York Times Bestseller* An important overview of the way our justice system works, and why the rule of law is essential to our survival as a society—from the one-time federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, and host of the Doing Justice podcast. Preet Bharara has spent much of his life examining our legal system, pushing to make it better, and prosecuting those looking to subvert it. Bharara believes in our system and knows it must be protected, but to do so, he argues, we must also acknowledge and allow for flaws both in our justice system and in human nature. Bharara uses the many illustrative anecdotes and case histories from his storied, formidable career—the successes as well as the failures—to shed light on the realities of the legal system and the consequences of taking action. Inspiring and inspiringly written, Doing Justice gives us hope that rational and objective fact-based thinking, combined with compassion, can help us achieve truth and justice in our daily lives. Sometimes poignant and sometimes controversial, Bharara's expose is a thought-provoking, entertaining book about the need to find the humanity in our legal system as well as in our society. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Markets without Limits Jason F. Brennan, Peter Jaworski, 2015-08-20 May you sell your vote? May you sell your kidney? May gay men pay surrogates to bear them children? May spouses pay each other to watch the kids, do the dishes, or have sex? Should we allow the rich to genetically engineer gifted, beautiful children? Should we allow betting markets on terrorist attacks and natural disasters? Most people shudder at the thought. To put some goods and services for sale offends human dignity. If everything is commodified, then nothing is sacred. The market corrodes our character. Or so most people say. In Markets without Limits, Jason Brennan and Peter Jaworski give markets a fair hearing. The market does not introduce wrongness where there was not any previously. Thus, the authors claim, the question of what rightfully may be bought and sold has a simple answer: if you may do it for free, you may do it for money. Contrary to the conservative consensus, they claim there are no inherent limits to what can be bought and sold, but only restrictions on how we buy and sell. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality John Perry, 1978-03-15 Perry's excellent dialogue makes a complicated topic stimulating and accessible without any sacrifice of scholarly accuracy or thoroughness. Professionals will appreciate the work's command of the issues and depth of argument, while students will find that it excites interest and imagination. --David M. Rosenthal, CUNY, Lehman College |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Justice and Love Mary Zournazi, Rowan Williams, 2020-11-12 How do we see and act justly in the world? In what ways can we ethically respond to social and economic crisis? How do we address the desperation that exists in the new forms of violence and atrocity? These are all questions at the heart of Justice and Love, a philosophical dialogue on how to imagine and act in a more just world by theologian Rowan Williams and philosopher Mary Zournazi. Looking at different religious and philosophical traditions, Williams and Zournazi argue for the re-invigoration and enriching of the language of justice and, by situating justice alongside other virtues, they extend our everyday vocabularies on what is just. Drawing on examples ranging from the Paris Attacks, the Syrian War, and the European Migrant Crisis to Brexit and the US Presidential elections, Williams and Zournazi reflect on justice as a process: a condition of being, a responsiveness to others, rather than a cold distribution of fact. By doing so, they explore the love and patience needed for social healing and the imagination required for new ways of relating and experiencing the world. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Burn Pits Joseph Hickman, 2019-07-22 “There’s a whole chapter on my son Beau… He was co-located [twice] near these burn pits.” –Joe Biden, former Vice President of the United States of America The Agent Orange of the 21st Century… Thousands of American soldiers are returning from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan with severe wounds from chemical war. They are not the victims of ruthless enemy warfare, but of their own military commanders. These soldiers, afflicted with rare cancers and respiratory diseases, were sickened from the smoke and ash swirling out of the “burn pits” where military contractors incinerated mountains of trash, including old stockpiles of mustard and sarin gas, medical waste, and other toxic material. This shocking work, now for the first time in paperback, includes: Illustration of the devastation in one soldier’s intimate story A plea for help Connection between the burn pits and Major Biden’s unfortunate suffering and death The burn pits’ effects on native citizens of Iraq: mothers, fathers, and children Denial from the Department of Defense and others Warning signs that were ignored and much more Based on thousands of government documents, over five hundred in-depth medical case studies, and interviews with more than one thousand veterans and active-duty GIs, The Burn Pits will shock the nation. The book is more than an explosive work of investigative journalism—it is the deeply moving chronicle of the many young men and women who signed up to serve their country in the wake of 9/11, only to return home permanently damaged, the victims of their own armed forces’ criminal negligence. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Desert and Justice Serena Olsaretti, 2003-07-24 Serena Olsaretti brings together new essays by leading moral and political philosophers on the nature of desert and justice, their relations with each other and with other values. Does justice require that individuals get what they deserve? What exactly is involved in giving people what they deserve? Does treating people as responsible agents require that we make room for desert in the economic sphere, as well as in the attribution of moral praise and blame and in the dispensing of punishment? How does respecting desert square with considerations of equality? Does desert, like justice, have a comparative aspect? These are questions of great practical as well as theoretical importance: this book is unique in offering a sustained examination of them from various perspectives. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Secular Buddhism Stephen Batchelor, 2017-02-21 An essential collection of Stephen Batchelor’s most probing and important work on secular Buddhism As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream Western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition? Is there an ethical framework that can underpin and contextualize these practices in a rapidly changing world? In this collected volume of Stephen Batchelor’s writings on these themes, he explores the complex implications of Buddhism’s secularization. Ranging widely—from reincarnation, religious belief, and agnosticism to the role of the arts in Buddhist practice—he offers a detailed picture of contemporary Buddhism and its attempt to find a voice in the modern world. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Liberalism and Its Critics Michael J. Sandel, 1984-12 Much contemporary political philosophy has been a debate between utilitarianism on the one hand and Kantian, or rights-based ethic has recently faced a growing challenge from a different direction, from a view that argues for a deeper understanding of citizenship and community than the liberal ethic allows. The writings collected in this volume present leading statements of rights-based liberalism and of the communitarian, or civic republican alternatives to that position. The principle of selection has been to shift the focus from the familiar debate between utilitarians and Kantian liberals in order to consider a more powerful challenge ot the rights-based ethic, a challenge indebted, broadly speaking, to Aristotle, Hegel, and the civic republican tradition. Contributors include Isaiah Berlin, John Rawls, Alasdair MacIntyre. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Rule of Law Tom Bingham, 2011-07-07 'A gem of a book ... Inspiring and timely. Everyone should read it' Independent 'The Rule of Law' is a phrase much used but little examined. The idea of the rule of law as the foundation of modern states and civilisations has recently become even more talismanic than that of democracy, but what does it actually consist of? In this brilliant short book, Britain's former senior law lord, and one of the world's most acute legal minds, examines what the idea actually means. He makes clear that the rule of law is not an arid legal doctrine but is the foundation of a fair and just society, is a guarantee of responsible government, is an important contribution to economic growth and offers the best means yet devised for securing peace and co-operation. He briefly examines the historical origins of the rule, and then advances eight conditions which capture its essence as understood in western democracies today. He also discusses the strains imposed on the rule of law by the threat and experience of international terrorism. The book will be influential in many different fields and should become a key text for anyone interested in politics, society and the state of our world. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Corrective and Distributive Justice Izhak Englard, 2009 Corrective and Distributive Justice: From Aristotle to Modern Times retraces the intricate history of the distinction between corrective and distributive justice. This distinction is elaborated in the 5th book of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, which was rediscovered in Western Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries by the Scholastics and turned into a central topic in legal and theological scholarship. After a decline of interest in the wake of the enlightenment and secularization, a surprising revival of these notions of justice occurred in U.S. legal and philosophical discourse during the last four decades that has made this distinction a central issue in tort law, restitution and other important fields of private and public law. In literally hundreds of articles and a considerable number of books, the Aristotelian distinction has been elaborated, discussed, and applied. Englard's unique contribution to this aspect of legal history grants the contemporary reader a historical perspective that is vital for a deepened understanding of the distinction and modern concerns. Organized chronologically, Englard's research covers: Aristotle, High Scholastics, Late Scholastics, Post-Scholastics, and Modernity. The relevant literature is notoriously difficult to access, not only because of its Latin language, but because of the physical rarity of the relevant books scattered throughout the world. This book offers the modern reader a touchstone synthesis of intellectual and legal history. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Inventing the Individual Larry Siedentop, 2014-10-20 Here, in a grand narrative spanning 1,800 years of European history, a distinguished political philosopher firmly rejects Western liberalism’s usual account of itself: its emergence in opposition to religion in the early modern era. Larry Siedentop argues instead that liberal thought is, in its underlying assumptions, the offspring of the Church. “It is a magnificent work of intellectual, psychological, and spiritual history. It is hard to decide which is more remarkable: the breadth of learning displayed on almost every page, the infectious enthusiasm that suffuses the whole book, the riveting originality of the central argument, or the emotional power and force with which it is deployed.” —David Marquand, New Republic “Larry Siedentop has written a philosophical history in the spirit of Voltaire, Condorcet, Hegel, and Guizot...At a time when we on the left need to be stirred from our dogmatic slumbers, Inventing the Individual is a reminder of some core values that are pretty widely shared.” —James Miller, The Nation “In this learned, subtle, enjoyable and digestible work [Siedentop] has offered back to us a proper version of ourselves. He has explained us to ourselves...[A] magisterial, timeless yet timely work.” —Douglas Murray, The Spectator “Like the best books, Inventing the Individual both teaches you something new and makes you want to argue with it.” —Kenan Malik, The Independent |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: A Short History of Bioethics Fabrizio Turoldo, 2016 |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: There Are Places in the World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness Carlo Rovelli, 2020-11-05 'A joy of a book - enriching, illuminating, eclectic and far from a conventional science read' Richard Webb, New Scientist Books of the Year 'Carlo Rovelli's imaginative rigour, his lively humour and his beautiful writing are inspiring' Erica Wagner One of the most inspiring thinkers of our age, the bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics transforms the way we think about the world with his reflections on science, history and humanity In this collection of writings, the logbook of an intelligence always on the move, Carlo Rovelli follows his curiosity and invites us on a voyage through science, history, philosophy and politics. Written with his usual clarity and wit, these pieces range widely across time and space: from Newton's alchemy to Einstein's mistakes, from Nabokov's butterflies to Dante's cosmology, from travels in Africa to the consciousness of an octopus, from mind-altering psychedelic substances to the meaning of atheism. Charming, pithy and elegant, this book is the perfect gateway to the universe of one of the most influential scientists of our age. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Lessons in Stoicism John Sellars, 2019-09-05 How can Stoicism inspire us to lead more enjoyable lives? In the past few years, Stoicism has been making a comeback. But what exactly did the Stoics believe? In Lessons in Stoicism, philosopher John Sellars weaves together the key ideas of the three great Roman Stoics -- Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius -- with snapshots of their fascinating lives, to show us how their ideas can help us today. In vivid prose, Sellars shows how the works of these three Stoics have inspired readers ever since, speaking as they do to some of the perennial issues that face anyone trying to navigate their way through life. Their works, fundamentally, are about how to live -- how to understand one's place in the world, how to cope when things don't go well, how to manage one's emotions and how to behave towards others. Consoling and inspiring, Lessons in Stoicism is a deeply thoughtful guide to the philosophy of a good life. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Memory Keeper's Daughter Kim Edwards, 2006-05-30 A #1 New York Times bestseller by Kim Edwards, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a brilliantly crafted novel of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love Kim Edwards’s stunning novel begins on a winter night in 1964 in Lexington, Kentucky, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century—in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that winter night long ago. A family drama, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter explores every mother's silent fear: What would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? It is also an astonishing tale of love and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets are finally uncovered. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: On Liberty and the Subjection of Women John Stuart Mill, 2006-08-31 A prodigiously brilliant thinker who sharply challenged the beliefs of his age, the political and social radical John Stuart Mill was the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century. Regarded as one of the sacred texts of liberalism, his great work On Liberty argues lucidly that any democracy risks becoming a 'tyranny of opinion' in which minority views are suppressed if they do not conform with those of the majority. Written in the same period as On Liberty, shortly after the death of Mill's beloved wife and fellow-thinker Harriet, The Subjection of Women stresses the importance of equality for the sexes. Together, the works provide a fascinating testimony to the hopes and anxieties of mid-Victorian England, and offer a compelling consideration of what it truly means to be free. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion Bushra Rehman, 2022-12-06 An New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice * An NPR Best Book of the Year * A Padma Lakshmi Book Club Pick For fans of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, an unforgettable story about female friendship and queer love in a Muslim-American community “Stunningly beautiful.” —The New York Times Book Review “An unforgettable voice that moves you from the start.” —People Magazine Razia Mirza grows up amid the wild grape vines and backyard sunflowers of Corona, Queens, with her best friend, Saima, by her side. When a family rift drives the girls apart, Razia’s heart is broken. She finds solace in Taslima, a new girl in her close-knit Pakistani-American community. They embark on a series of small rebellions: listening to scandalous music, wearing miniskirts, and cutting school to explore the city. When Razia is accepted to Stuyvesant, a prestigious high school in Manhattan, the gulf between the person she is and the daughter her parents want her to be, widens. At Stuyvesant, Razia meets Angela and is attracted to her in a way that blossoms into a new understanding. When their relationship is discovered by an Aunty in the community, Razia must choose between her family and her own future. Punctuated by both joy and loss, full of ’80s music and beloved novels, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a new classic: a fiercely compassionate coming-of-age story of a girl struggling to reconcile her heritage and faith with her desire to be true to herself. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Morality of Markets Parth J. Shah, Parth Shah, 2004 This Book Addresses Critical Issues Ranging From The Underlying Ethics Of Voluntary Exchange, Morality In The Commerce And The Corporation, The Immorality Of State Intervention, And The Role Of Markets In The Teachings Of Major World Religions. Contributions By Distinguished Economists, Ethicists, And Theologians Explore The Moral And Ethical Foundations Of The Free Market. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: The Cambridge Companion to William James Ruth Anna Putnam, 1997-04-13 The most convenient and accessible guide to James currently available. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Defining Moments Joseph L. Badaracco Jr., 2016-08-16 When Business and Personal Values Collide “Defining moments” occur when managers face business decisions that trigger conflicts with their personal values. These moments test a person’s commitment to those values and ultimately shape their character. But these are also the decisions that can make or break a career. Is there a thoughtful, yet pragmatic, way to make the right choice? Bestselling author Joseph Badaracco shows how to approach these dilemmas using three case examples that, when taken together, represent the escalating responsibilities and personal tests managers face as they advance in their careers. The first story presents a young manager whose choice will affect him only as an individual; the second, a department head whose decision will influence his organization; the third, a corporate executive whose actions will have much larger, societal ramifications. To guide the decision-making process, the book draws on the insights of four philosophers—Aristotle, Machiavelli, Nietzsche, and James—who offer distinctly practical, rather than theoretical, advice. Defining Moments is the ultimate manager’s guide for resolving issues of conflicting responsibility in practical ways. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: On the Nature and Existence of God Richard M. Gale, 2016-08-26 This influential book evaluates the arguments for the existence and nature of God that emerged in the late twentieth century. |
| michael sandel justice whats the right thing to do: Morrison’s Mission: A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin Special Paul Kelly, 2022-02 When he became Prime Minister in 2018, Scott Morrison was a foreign policy amateur confronted by unprecedented challenges- an assertive Beijing and a looming rivalry between the two biggest economies in world history, the United States and China. Morrison plunged into foreign and security policy by making highly contentious changes that will be felt for decades, not least the historic decision to build nuclear-powered submarines. Featuring interviews with Morrison and members of his cabinet, this book tells the story of the Prime Minister's foreign policy convictions and calculations, and what drove his attitudes towards China, America and the Indo-Pacific. |
Justice: A Reader - IASbaba
1. DOING THE RIGHT THING In the summer of 2004, Hurricane Charley roared out of the Gulf of Mexico and swept across Florida …
JUSTICE: WHAT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? - Boston Univ…
The book lays out three approaches to justice.1 One is the utilitarian idea of maximizing welfare or happiness. The …
Justice Whats The Right Thing To Do - resources.caih.jhu.edu
Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel WEBHaving discussed the likely reactions that people have to …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the Ri…
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 21-30, by permission of the publisher. The Runaway Trolley. Suppose you are the driver of a trolley …
WHAT’S MICHAEL J. JUSTICE THE RIGHT THING TO SANDE…
Michael J. Sandel opens his book “Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?” by exploring several ethical and moral dilemmas that …
JUSTICE - Macmillan Publishers
JUSTICE What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel “An intoxicating invitation to take apart and examine how …
Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
Sandel’s proposal is that we ought to engage publicly and politically in proper moral discussion about what the good is …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the Ri…
Two Principles of Justice. Suppose Rawls is right: The way to think about justice is to ask what principles we would choose in an original …
Justice: A Reader - IASbaba
1. DOING THE RIGHT THING In the summer of 2004, Hurricane Charley roared out of the Gulf of Mexico and swept across Florida to the Atlantic Ocean. The storm claimed twenty-two lives …
JUSTICE: WHAT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? - Boston …
The book lays out three approaches to justice.1 One is the utilitarian idea of maximizing welfare or happiness. The second is the idea that justice means respecting freedom and human dignity. …
Justice Whats The Right Thing To Do - resources.caih.jhu.edu
Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel WEBHaving discussed the likely reactions that people have to such cases, Sandel proposes three ways in which we could …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the …
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 21-30, by permission of the publisher. The Runaway Trolley. Suppose you are the driver of a trolley car hurtling down the track at sixty miles an …
WHAT’S MICHAEL J. JUSTICE THE RIGHT THING TO …
Michael J. Sandel opens his book “Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?” by exploring several ethical and moral dilemmas that society has faced.
JUSTICE - Macmillan Publishers
JUSTICE What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel “An intoxicating invitation to take apart and examine how we arrive at our notions of right and wrong.” —Karen Long, The Plain …
Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel
Sandel’s proposal is that we ought to engage publicly and politically in proper moral discussion about what the good is for a society and then start enacting those policies that will bring about …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the …
Two Principles of Justice. Suppose Rawls is right: The way to think about justice is to ask what principles we would choose in an original position of equality, behind a veil of ignorance. What …
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 124-129, by …
(“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”) answer: No. The Golden Rule depends on contingent facts about how people would like to be treated. The categorical imperative This …
MICHAEL J. SANDEL’S JUSTICE: WHAT’S THE RIGHT …
michael j. sandel’s justice: what’s the right thing to do?: a response of moral reasoning in kind, with analysis of aristotle and examples judith a. swanson* introduction..... 1375 i. aristotle and …
Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do? Nan Norling, Parry …
Sandel presents students with ethical dilemmas on modern day issues – such as affirmative action and same-sex marriage—then conducts lively, engaging, and remarkably intimate …
Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? Michael J. sandel …
Sandel’s recurring theme throughout Justice is that we first have to understand the true nature or telos of an activity or practice before we can properly determine the right moral or public policy …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the …
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 62-66, by permission of the publisher. Free-Market Philosophy. In Anarchy, State and Utopia (1974), Robert Nozick o ers a philosophi-cal defense …
Michael Sandel Justice Whats The Right Thing To Do
Sandel explores the implications of this philosophy, highlighting its emphasis on free markets and individual autonomy. He argues that while this approach protects individual freedom, it can …
Justice Whats The Right Thing To Do Michael J Sandel - L …
politics, how laws should be constructed and how society should be organized. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael …
2. THE GREATEST HAPPINESS PRINCIPLE / …
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 31-33, by permission of the publisher.
JUSTICE: WHAT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? MICHAEL …
JUSTICE: WHAT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? MICHAEL J. SANDEL. STEREOTYPING RELIGION: CRITIQUING CLICHÉS. CRAIG MARTIN AND BRADY STODDARD. RADICAL …
Objection 1: Individual Rights - edX
This excerpt is from Michael J. Sandel, Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, pp. 37-46, by permission of the publisher.
Justice: What?s the Right Thing to Do?
Aug 17, 2010 · Justice: What?s the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel About the Book?For Michael Sandel, justice is not a spectator sport,? The Nation?s reviewer of Justice remarked. …
5. WHAT MATTERS IS THE MOTIVE / IMMANUEL KANT
According to Kant, the moral worth of an action consists not in the consequences that ow from it, but in the intention from which the act is done. What matters is the motive, and the motive …
