TheTyrannyofMerit

Democracy is in danger during these times. Our society is split into winners and losers, with the odds stacked in favor of those who already have good fortune. The promise that "you can make it if you try" is a lie, as social mobility is stalled and inequality is entrenched. This has caused frustration and anger, leading to populist protests such as Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Michael J. Sandel believes that to overcome the polarized politics of our time, we need to rethink our views on success and failure that have come about due to globalization and rising inequality. Sandel argues that the meritocracy creates arrogance among the winners and harsh judgment on those who are left behind. He suggests an alternative way of thinking about success that pays attention to the role of luck in human affairs, promotes humility, and is conducive to a politics that benefits society as a whole.

作者简介

迈克尔·桑德尔（MichaelJ.Sandel）著名哲学家，哈佛大学政治哲学教授，美国艺术与科学院院士，索邦大学客座教授，牛津大学博士。桑德尔是社群主义代表人物，坚持批判自由主义的个人观，反思公共生活与公民问题，其代表作《公正》《金钱不能买什么》被翻译成27种语言，畅销全球并引起热议。美国政治学会授予其特别成就奖，《外交政策》评选他为“全球杰出思想家”之一。桑德尔致力于“公民教育”的通识理念，他的传奇公开课《公正》是哈佛大学历史上累计听课人数最多的课程之一，也是哈佛大学第一门在网上免费开放的课程。他擅长采用苏格拉底的问答式教学法，通过对极端假设或热点新闻的讨论引导学生主动思考、公开辩论。桑德尔的教室从校园延伸至全世界，讲学足迹遍及各国，他曾多次来到中国，在北京大学、清华大学、华东师范大学等高校演讲。