About this course

This thought-provoking course, led by Harvard Professor Michael J. Sandel, explores the ethical and moral boundaries in modern market practices. The course delves into the commodification of everything from personal data and civic rights to human lives, examining whether there should be limits to market dominance in various spheres of life.

What students will learn

  • Understanding the expansion of market norms into traditionally non-market arenas.
  • Reflection on the moral limitations that should govern market transactions.
  • Distinguishing needs versus wants in a market-driven world.
  • Articulating strong philosophical rationale concerning the distribution of goods and services.
  • Developing a personalized ethical framework to navigate complex moral dilemmas.

Course prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required for this course, making it suitable for anyone interested in ethics, philosophy, or economics.

Course coverage

  • Ethical implications of market-driven decisions.
  • Analyzing the morality of trading essential and non-essential goods and services.
  • Debates and discussions on market limitations.
  • Developing articulate arguments on ethical market behaviors.
  • Case studies on controversial market practices.

Who should take this course

This course is ideal for students, professionals, and anyone with an interest in understanding the complexities of markets and ethics. It is particularly beneficial for those in fields of humanities, social sciences, law, and business.

Real-world application of skills

Skills acquired from this course can be applied in policy formulation, corporate governance, personal decision-making processes, and public debates, enhancing both professional and personal ethical standards.

Course syllabus

  1. The Ethics of Supply and Demand: Linestanding
  2. The Ethics of Supply and Demand: Price Gouging
  3. Environmental Protection: The Walrus Quota
  4. Consenting Adults: Organ Sales, Hard Jobs
  5. Betting on Life and Death: Life Insurance
  6. Betting on Life and Death: Death Pools
  7. Betting on the Housing Market
  8. Markets in Politics: Voting
  9. Markets in Politics: Refugee Quotas and Immigration
  10. Employment Discrimination: Lookism
  11. Employment Discrimination: Racial Discrimination and Base Desires
  12. Market, Incentives, and Norms