Michael Sandel is an American political philosopher and the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government Theory at Harvard University. His 2020 book The Tyranny of Merit: Can we Find the Common Good? was named a best book of the year by several influential publications. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz drew on its themes while campaigning. His free online course “Justice” has been viewed by tens of millions of people. Sandel’s BBC series “The Global Philosopher” explores ethical dilemmas related to immigration, climate change, free speech, and other current issues with participants from around the world.
Michael Sandel has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, delivered the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Oxford, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His global lecture tours have packed such venues as St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), the Sydney Opera House (Australia), and an outdoor stadium in Seoul (S. Korea), where 14,000 came to hear him speak.
