Morality and the Free Market - Michael Sandel

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/07/20/Michael_Sandel_on_Markets_and_Morals

Political philosopher Michael Sandel argues that free market economics have affected American perceptions of ethics, morality, and value. By emphasizing the monetary value of human goods, says Sandel, Americans may be moving away from notions of emotional and social worth.

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Harvard Professor Michael Sandel deliveres a speech titled "Markets and Morals" as part of the Chautauqua Institution 2009 Summer Lecture Series. He tackles some of economics' toughest ethical questions, such as the business of commercial surrogacy and the price of citizenship. - Chautauqua Institution

Michael J. Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University, where he has taught political philosophy since 1980.

He is the author of Liberalism and the Limits of Justice (Cambridge University Press, 1982, 2nd edition, 1997; translated into eight foreign languages), Democracy's Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy (Harvard University Press, 1996), Public Philosophy: Essays on Morality in Politics (Harvard University Press, 2005), and The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering (Harvard University Press, 2007).

His writings also appear in general publications such as The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, and The New York Times.

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[anomistars]

Thank you very much for making these lectures available.

[templedog69]

onlytheweak....... you obviously have never done crack before... your perception is bent

.

[ryan84160]

@OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp Wait so do you think the government should ban child labour in America or not ? "working moght be their best option." Actually the data says that going to school is by far the best option.

You can call your self a billionaire if you want,but it doesn't make it so. No libertarian would support mandatory labeling.

[OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp]

@ryan84160

I believe in age restrictions. That being said, i think it is pointless for the american government to say child labor is bad. Maybe in america they can make such claims, but it is pointless to say that every child should not be allowed to work, when working moght be their best option. I see no contridictions. Maybe i have a certain kind of libertarian view, but either way, i am a libertarian.

[ryan84160]

@OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp You might be libertarianish, but you are not a libertarian. A libertarian would not use force to make someone put a label on their product.

So a 5 year old is not mature enough to decide that is wants to smoke crack,but it is mature to decide that it wants to work in a dangerous job instead of going to school? Do you not notice that your thoughts are so full of contradictions before you commit t them ?

[OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp]

@ryan84160

i wrote a have year old instead of a five year old. My bad

[OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp]

@ryan84160

I am a libertarian, because i believe a person is responsible for their own wellbeing. If a person knows what crack will do to him, and still chooses to take it, then they will have to live with the consequences. I have year old can not choose to take crack because they lack the maturity level to make an informed decision. That is why a 5 year old cannot do drugs, or vote, or drive. Age is not a direct indicator of mmaturity, but until there is a maturity test, ill run with it

[ryan84160]

@OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp You are a walking logical contradiction. If every person has the right to do what they want,including 5 year olds, how can you stop a 5 year old from smoking crack or choosing to have sex with an adult ?

" If there is no warning, the consumer is to assume there is no problem with the good."Why is regulation justified in this one extra special case ? No one is forcing anyone to buy anything. I am sure you wont find much support for this from other libertarians.

[OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp]

@ryan84160

every person has the right do do what they want, as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others. So, if a 5 year old chooses to work, then he/she can work.That being said, i do believe in age restriction, on alcohal and other drugs, because people must be able to make an informed decision.It is exactly the same as lying. If there is no warning, the consumer is to assume there is no problem with the good.So by having no warnings you are lying about the quality of the good

[ryan84160]

@OnlyTheWeakNeedHelp Why do you think a 5 year old has an inherent right to work? "but in some countries, that is their best opportunity for a good life." Or they could go to school.

"I would use force to make sure people are aware of what they are buying" Then you are violating your libertarian non aggression principle. It isn't lying to withhold information.If they don't like the fact that it doesn't have the information they don't have to buy it.