Considering the role of justice in our society and our lives, Michael Sandel reveals how an understanding of philosophy can help to make sense of politics, religion, morality - and our own convictions. Breaking down hotly contested issues, from abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage, to patriotism, dissent and affirmative action, Sandel shows how the biggest questions in our civic life can be broken down and illuminated through reasoned debate. Justice promises to take readers - of all ages and political persuasions - on an exhilarating journey to confront today's political and moral controversies in a fresh and enlightening way.

　　安乐死是否应该得到法律许可？一条命是否不如十条命贵重？代孕合同是否合法？
　　在这个日益物质化的年代，我们的行为选择总在人性和物质之间摇摆不定。我们的社会正陷入尴尬的两难选择当中。我们甚至怀疑法律是否公正，因为法律无法回避个人的道德判断，无法做到中立。
　　这让习惯了传统道德观念和固定思维的我们感到不安，但这种不安，却能让我们理性精神保持清醒的状态，促使我们去寻找有关“公正”的“出路”。 “世界最受欢迎的老师之一”的迈克尔·桑德尔教授将带领我们在寻找公正的旅途中，领略思辨的价值和魅力。

作者简介

Michael Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at the University of Harvard. Sandel's legendary 'Justice' course is one of the most popular and influential at Harvard. In 2007, Harvard made Sandel's course available to alumni around the world through webstreaming and podcasting. Over 5,000 participants signed up, and Harvard Clubs from Mexico to Australia organized local discussion groups in connection with the course. In May 2007, Sandel delivered a series of lectures at major universities in China and he has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, Paris. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Council on Foreign Relations. Sandel is the author of many books and has previously written for the Atlantic Monthly, the New Republic and the New York Times. He was the 2009 BBC Reith Lecturer.

　　迈克尔·桑德尔（Michael J. Sandel）(1953-) ，政治哲学家，哈佛大学教授。他因在《自由主义与正义的局限》（Liberalism and the Limits of Justice，1982）一书中对罗尔斯的正义论（Theory of Justice，1971）所进行的批判而著称，由此产生并流传 “社群主义”一语。桑德尔著述颇丰，包括：《民主的不满》（Democracy's Discontent）和《公共哲学》（Public Philosophy）。

精彩书评

One of the world's most interesting political philosophers Guardian Justice is a lucid and compelling analysis of our current moral dilemmas, which argues for a new commitment to citizenship and the common good Shirley Williams In the beautifully concise explanations of American philosopher Michael Sandel, I see great insight into our current predicaments. If any political reckoning is on its way ... then perhaps it might come from the philosophy department of Harvard Madeleine Bunting Michael Sandel, perhaps the most prominent college professor in America,...practices the best kind of academic populism, managing to simplify John Stuart Mill and John Rawls without being simplistic. But Sandel is best at what he calls bringing 'moral clarity to the alternatives we confront as democratic citizens'... He ends up clarifying a basic political divide - not between left and right, but between those who recognize nothing greater than individual rights and choices, and those who affirm a 'politics of the common good,' rooted in moral beliefs that can't be ignored -- Michael Gerson Washington Post Michael Sandel transforms moral philosophy by putting it at the heart of civic debate...Sandel's insistence on the inescapably ethical character of political debate is enormously refreshing -- Edward Skidelsky New Statesman A spellbinding philosopher... For Michael Sandel, justice is not a spectator sport... He is calling for nothing less than a reinvigoration of citizenship -- Samuel Moyn The Nation An ambitious and an appealing idea. Intriguingly, I find myself persuaded that it might well be worth a try Lisa Jardine, The Times More than exhilarating; exciting in its ability to persuade this student/reader, time and again, that the principle now being invoked-on this page, in this chapter-is the one to deliver the sufficiently inclusive guide to the making of a decent life -- Vivien Gornick Boston Review Sandel explains theories of justice...with clarity and immediacy; the ideas of Aristotle, Jeremy Bentham, Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill, Robert Nozick and John Rawls have rarely, if ever, been set out as accessibly... In terms we can all understand, Justice confronts us with the concepts that lurk, so often unacknowledged, beneath our conflicts -- Jonathan Rauch New York Times This book is absolutely indispensable for anyone who wants to be a good citizen. It shows how to balance competing values, a talent our nation desperately needs nowadays -- Walter Isaacson, Author Of 'benjamin Franklin: An American Life' Sandel dazzles in this sweeping survey of hot topics... Erudite, conversational and deeply humane, this is truly transformative reading Publishers Weekly, starred review Hard cases may make bad laws, but in Michael Sandel's hands they produce some cool philosophy... Justice is a timely plea for us to desist from political bickering and see if we can have a sensible discussion about what sort of society we really want to live in -- Jonathan Ree The Observer A road map for negotiating modern moral dilemmas... For those seeking a short course through moral philosophy from a witty writer, fast on his feet, and nimble with his pen, this thin volume is difficult to beat -- Kevin J. Hamilton Seattle Times There have been various attempts over the decades to bury moral philosophy -- to dismiss convictions about right and wrong as cultural prejudices, or secretions of the brain, or matters so personal they shouldn't even affect our private lives. But moral questions always return, as puzzles and as tragedies. Would we push a hefty man onto a railroad track to save the lives of five others? Should Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, in June of 2005, have executed a group of Afghan goatherds who, having stumbled on his position, might inform the enemy about his unit? (Luttrell let them go, the Taliban attacked, and three of his comrades died.) These examples and others -- price-gouging after Hurricane Katrina, affirmative action, gay marriage -- are all grist for the teaching of Michael Sandel, perhaps the most prominent college professor in America. His popular class at Harvard -- Moral Reasoning 22: Justice -- attracts about a sixth of all undergraduates. For those lacking $49,000 a year in tuition and board, he has written Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? which has been further translated into a PBS series and a Web site, JusticeHarvard.org -- Michael Gerson Wall Street Journal