
Michael Sandel
Bestselling Author, "The Tyranny of Merit," "Justice," and "Democracy’s Discontent" | Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government, Harvard University
Michael Sandel is a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University and the bestselling author of books on justice, ethics, democracy, and markets that have been translated into over 30 languages. Described as a “philosopher with the global profile of a rock star,” Sandel is known across the globe for his lively Socratic debates that aim to restore the lost art of democratic argument. He poses open-ended, often provocative questions, and encourages audience members to share their differing perspectives. The result is a highly engaging event that promotes deeper understanding of big issues through the dissection of ideas from all sides.
Sandel’s books tackle the most vexing moral and civic questions of our time. Democracy’s Discontent, just released in a new 25th anniversary edition to address our perilous times, has been described as “essential–and ultimately hopeful–reading for all those who wonder if our democratic experiment will survive in the twenty-first century.” His book, The Tyranny of Merit: Can We Find the Common Good?, seeks a way beyond the polarized politics of our time. And his classic book Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?, which has sold more than two million copies, shows how philosophy can help us think our way through the ethical dilemmas that arise in politics, business, and everyday life.
Sandel’s course “Justice,” one of the most popular in Harvard’s history, is freely available online and has been viewed by tens of millions of people worldwide. His BBC series The Global Philosopher, explores ethical aspects of new technology, climate change, free speech, and other topical issues with participants from dozens of countries. His lectures have packed such venues as St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), the Sydney Opera House (Australia), the Delacorte Theater in New York’s Central Park, and an outdoor stadium in Seoul (S. Korea), where 14,000 came to hear him speak.
Sandel has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, delivered the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Oxford, served on the U.S. President’s Council on Bioethics, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A graduate of Brandeis University, he received his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
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