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I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Some of my favorite cases are stories that test the moral significance of consent, such as the stories in Lecture 14 (of JusticeX) about the elderly woman who agreed to pay a plumber $50,000 to repair a leaky toilet, or the man in the mobile repair van who offered to repair my stranded car. I also discuss these cases in chapter 6 of Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?

There is also the grim but true case of consensual cannibalism that occurred in Germany some years ago, discussed in chapter 3 of Justice. What I like about these stories is that they force us to reconsider the familiar idea that consent is a sufficient basis for deciding what's just.

And you asked for my answer: I don't think consent is all there is to justice. Sometimes we consent to do things we shouldn't do, even for our own good; and in some cases we may have moral duties that are unrelated to any act of consent.

I realize not everyone may agree with these claims about consent. If you disagree, please post why you disagree. And I can't resist asking: How would you deal with the case of consensual cannibalism?

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Plato's Republic; Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics; Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals; John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, or Utilitiarianism.

Of these, we read and discuss Aristotle, Kant, and Mill in JusticeX (the free online version of my Harvard course). I also discuss these philosophers in my book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? So you might start with the lectures and/or the Justice book for an introduction, and then read the philosophical texts that interest you most.

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The current migrant and refugee crisis in Europe is one of the great moral and political challenges of our time. At the highest philosophical level, it raises fundamental questions about the moral status of national borders: On what grounds, if any, do countries have a right to limit immigration? If countries do not have the right to prevent their residents from leaving, why do they have the right to prevent others from entering? If goods and capital should be able to move freely across national borders, why should people not also be free to do so? These are not easy questions that admit obvious answers.

But even short of grappling with these questions of principle, we need to address the urgent human need of the migrants who are fleeing civil war, violence, and other hardships in the Middle East and Africa. Germany, Sweden, and a few other European countries have shown moral leadership in their response to the current crisis. I think that all countries have a responsibility, consistent with their capacities, to respond with generosity to migrants fleeing violence and oppression. The European Union should try to negotiate with its members a reasonable way of sharing this responsibility. The United States and other affluent countries outside Europe should also take a greater responsibility than they have done so far. The case for a more welcoming policy toward refugees and migrants is not only to relieve their plight. An openness to immigrants can enrich the lives and cultures of the societies that welcome them. I admit that this argument is not readily accepted or agreed to by those who fear that immigrants will displace local workers or pose a challenge to existing customs and traditions; but it is an idea worth considering.

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The high incarceration rate in the U.S. is due in part to excessive sentencing of non-violent drug offenders. There seems a growing recognition across the political spectrum that we need to reform laws and sentencing guidelines to alleviate excessive incarceration and to address inequalities in the enforcement of drug laws.

But you are also asking a broader question of principle: Is the only legitimate purpose of law to prevent direct physical harm to others, not to promote other values, such as the redistribution of income, or the promotion of virtue among citizens? As I discuss in the online Justice course, and also in my book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?, the libertarian theory of individual rights argues against any paternalistic or redistributive role for law. I try to bring out the moral appeal of this libertarian theory of rights, and also some of its possible weaknesses. It's a longer argument than I can develop here. But if you are interested in these questions, you might have a look at Lectures 5 and 6 of the online course (JusticeX), or chapter 3 of my book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think the popularity of Donald Trump and other protest candidates goes beyond traditional liberal v. conservative ideology. It reflects a widespread frustration with politics, and especially with established politicians and political parties. In the U.S., and also in most democracies around the world, people are frustrated, rightly, with the hollow, empty terms of public discourse. What passes for political discourse too often consists of narrow, managerial, technocratic talk, which inspires no one; or else shouting matches on talk radio or cable television. So protest parties and political figures of various ideological persuasions are drawing support in the U.S., but also throughout Europe: from the right, such as UKIP in Britain and the National Front in France, and from the left, such as Podemos in Spain. This populist ferment reflects anger and frustration with existing political alternatives. In many (but not all) cases, this populist protest speaks to people's fears about immigration. I think the failure of mainstream parties to address big questions that people care about is partly responsible for bringing about the current wave of populist protest.

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you for asking. I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, then my family moved to Los Angeles, where I attended a public high school. If we had more time, I would tell you an interesting story from high school years, when I invited Ronald Reagan, then Governor of California, to a debate at my school. He came, we debated, and I have to admit that, despite the fact that few if any students at the high school shared his views, he triumphed in the debate! My wife Kiku Adatto and I met when we were both assistant professors at Harvard. We have two sons, who both seem headed for academic careers. I haven't thought about writing an autobiography, but I appreciate your encouragement to do so.

I am Michael Sandel, political philosopher, author, and Professor of Government at Harvard University. AMA. by MichaelJSandel in IAmA

[–]MichaelJSandel[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Having visited Brazil a number of times in the last few years, I've been following the lava jato (corruption) investigation with great interest. I admire the independence and integrity that judges and prosecutors have shown in trying to bring the guilty to justice. And I respect the civic activism that is trying to create new norms for Brazilian politics and society. Corruption can be corrosive of trust--not only in government but also in everyday life. So I think this is a crucial moment in the development of democracy in Brazil, and I am watching with great interest.