Michael Sandel
contemporaryCommunitarianism, Civic Republicanismb. 1953
Michael Sandel (born 1953) is an American political philosopher at Harvard University best known for his communitarian critique of Rawlsian liberalism. In 'Liberalism and the Limits of Justice' (1982), he argued that liberal theory rests on an implausibly 'unencumbered' conception of the self, severed from its constitutive moral and communal ties. He has since extended this critique into debates on bioethics, market morality, and civic republicanism.
Notable Achievements
1
Developed the 'encumbered self' critique against Rawlsian liberal neutrality
2
Authored 'Liberalism and the Limits of Justice', a foundational communitarian text
3
Argued for limits on market reasoning in 'What Money Can't Buy' (2012)
4
Taught Harvard's 'Justice' course, one of the most widely viewed philosophy courses globally
5
Applied communitarian ethics to bioethics in 'The Case Against Perfection' (2007)