THINK! Book Club: Michael Sandel, “The Tyranny of Merit”

February 1, 2022
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm


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Influential communitarian philosopher and Harvard professor whose undergraduate course on justice has received widespread acclaim, Michael J. Sandel challenges our educational system and meritocratic culture in his 2020 book, “TheTyranny of Merit.” Sandel argues that our culture’s focus on prestigious college degrees and other credentials induces the successful few to be overly proud of their accomplishments while leaving the undegreed and under-achieving many to feel belittled and disvalued by society. He proposes changes that would reduce the pressure young people feel to get into elite universities as well as a cultural shift that would value even the lowliest, least remunerated work for its contribution to the common good. “The Tyranny of Merit” has 227 pages of text and can be purchased, in paperback, from Amazon for $16.

So, if you’d like to participate in a thoughtful discussion of these matters–including Sandel’s account of how our culture became so meritocratic and why that’s not a good thing–purchase this book and join us at 7 PM on Tuesday, February 1, by means of the indicated Zoom-link. I hope to see you then!

This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted. Donate or join at https://humanistsmn.org/.


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