Book Review: Michael Sandel

Book Review: Michael J. Sandel,

What Money Can’t Buy? The Moral Limits of Markets

Michael J. Sandel is one of the distinguished political philosophers who wrote many exemplary books about justice. He has highlighted the decline of moral values in the civil society in his contemporary works. He also addressed the moral issues in the American politics. In his latest book, What Money Can’t Buy? The Moral Limits of Markets, published in 2012, he focused on the certain social issues and tried to reveal the moral consequences of making everything for sale. Michael J. Sandel explained his point of view with the help of various case studies regarding commodities and labor forms (Reich). He described the influence of market behavior in the society and justified his arguments by supporting them with the examples related to everyday life.

Moreover, Michael J. Sandel also explained his notion by setting up clear difference between the elements by which money cannot buy everything. The deregulation of the market started in the late twentieth century which imposed adverse impacts on the moral limits of the society (Accoulon). He is of the view that the market should incorporate moral factors which are the essential elements of the organized society. Everything cannot be purchased with the money. There are moral values that need to be considered in order to prevent the destruction of the society through the power of money.

Meanwhile, Sandel argued that individuals are living in dilemma of profit maximization and moral norms (Accoulon). The moral habits and the values are the fundamental building blocks of the peaceful society, however, these social values are ruled out at the expense of earnings. For instance, paying people for their services is recognized as less cost effective and inefficient by the monetary policy makers. He also made an assumption that the extension of market behavior in the non-economic aspects of the life is leading towards more intricacies...