Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
Ratings19
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings19
Average rating4.3
Michael Sandel's Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? invites readers of all ages and political persuasions on a journey of moral reflection, and shows how reasoned debate can illuminate our lives. Is it always wrong to lie? Should there be limits to personal freedom? Can killing sometimes be justified? Is the free market fair? What is the right thing to do? Questions like these are at the heart of our lives. In this acclaimed book Michael Sandel - BBC Reith Lecturer and the Harvard professor whose 'Justice' course has become world famous - gives us a lively and accessible introduction to the intersection of politics and philosophy. He helps us think our way through such hotly contested issues as equal rights, democracy, euthanasia, abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as the ethical dilemmas we face every day. 'One of the most popular teachers in the world' - Observer 'Enormously refreshing ... Michael Sandel transforms moral philosophy by putting it at the heart of civic debate' - New Statesman 'One of the world's most interesting political philosophers' - Guardian 'Spellbinding' - The Nation
Reviews with the most likes.
Going on my Books Every Human Should Read list. This one is incredibly important, particularly for Americans, as it breaks down moral questions to a depth unheard of in our current public discourse. It ends on an optimistic note, suggesting how and why it matters that we discuss things like inequality in a particular way. Highly recommended, but plan time to work through this one slowly.
This book left me feeling a mix of dumbfounded and clever all at once. I think I'll need to reread it, with the justice video lectures on the side, to really soak up the theories and figure out how to use them in real life.
Michael J. Sandel is my new Mister Rogers. He's on my list of heroes along with Fred Rogers and Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr.
Who is this Michael J. Sandel? He's a professor at Harvard. He teaches a very popular class called Justice. Sandel is a mesmerizing teacher, beginning each class by sharing a morally questional situation, provoking students to think in new ways, and always treating each student with deep respect.
I started reading the book over the Thankfully Reading Weekend. Bonnie of the blog Bonnie's Books saw I was reading the book and she shared the free lectures available online. I watched all twenty-four, like some people binge-watch Seinfeld or Big Bang. I shared a link to an interview with Sandel with friends and family. I keep bringing Sandel and his Justice course up in conversation with others.
The book and the course give me hope. The students were beautifully articulate and Sandel ran the class like I imagine Plato led his classes.
If you have a free weekend, you can't do better than to watch some of the lectures and read along in the book. It will refresh you in this toxic political atmosphere.
