Intro
Michael Sandel is one of the most influential modern-day political philosophers. The prominent figure has been described as having the “global profile of a rockstar” 1. He has delivered speeches on some of the most interesting and controversial moral and political issues pertinent to our lives not only in lecture halls, but in stadiums.1 His books, which cover a multitude of topics including justice, financial markets, and ethics have been translated into over 27 languages.2 So, what has made Sandel such a popular figure?
Sandel has revolutionized the way that we think about traditional economic markets; while typically, they are positioned as being detached from social spheres, Sandel has argued that market thinking and institutions have crept their way into multiple aspects of modern life and that they deserve some critical analysis.3 He seeks to use philosophy to enhance the perspective of sects that he believes do not spend enough time thinking about the moral implications of their mechanisms, whether it be to do with stem-cell research, immigration, the current COVID-19 crisis, or politics.
Philosophy estranges us from the familiar, not by supplying new information, but by inviting and provoking a new way of seeing. But, and here is the risk, once the familiar turns strange, it is never quite the same again.
– Michael Sander, in his public-lecture "Justices"4
