Michael Sandel Audio & Video

In this complete, 12-lecture video course from Harvard University, Professor Michael Sandel presents his popular course which explores difficult moral dilemmas and how we respond to them.

The world-renowned philosopher and author of the best-selling Justice explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good?

Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel examines the thinking behind a current controversy.

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?

Michael J. Sandel is an American political philosopher and a professor at Harvard University. He is best known for the Harvard course "Justice", which is available to view online, and for his critique of John Rawls' A Theory of Justice in his first book, Liberalism and the Limits of Justice (1982).

Decades of increasing inequality, globalisation, technological change, unfettered markets and technocratic politics have given rise to ever more polarisation and populist sentiment.

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....

Democracy thrives on civil debate, Michael Sandel says -- but we're shamefully out of practice. He leads a fun refresher, with TEDsters sparring over a recent Supreme Court case (PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin) whose outcome reveals the critical ingredient in justice.

Host Nigel Warburton interviews contemporary philosophers and leading thinkers who are experts in particular areas of ethical consideration.