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What accounts for our polarised public life, and how can we begin to heal it? Political philosopher Michael Sandel offers a surprising answer: those who have flourished need to look in the mirror.
In his latest book, The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?, Sandel explores how "meritocratic hubris" leads many to believe their success is their own doing and to look down on those who haven't made it, provoking resentment and inflaming the divide between "winners" and "losers" in the new economy.
Join Sandel and our panel to hear why we need to reconsider the meaning of success and recognise the role of luck in order to create a less rancorous, more generous civic life.
This event is part of a new series hosted by the Policy Institute and the Fairness Foundation exploring issues of inequality, fairness and meritocracy. Look out for events in the new year with Sir Michael Marmot and Selina Todd.
Panel
- Michael Sandel, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University and author of The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?
- Jo Littler, Professor of Social Analysis and Cultural Politics at City, University London, and author of Against Meritocracy: Culture, Power and Myths of Mobility
- Adrian Wooldridge, Political Editor of the Economist and author of The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World
- Maria Alvarez, Professor of Philosophy and Head of the Department of Philosophy at King's College London
- Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (chair)