‘Rock star’ Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel all set to discuss money, markets and morals at first Hong Kong event in a decade
In town for oversubscribed lecture at Chinese University, US academic comments on the frustrations in city over wealth gap and quality of political discourse
“Rock star” philosopher Michael Sandel sees Hongkongers as being vexed by the gap between rich and poor, and by the fragmented state of political discourse in the city.
The Harvard professor is keen to see how his audience, the majority of whom will be Chinese University students, will respond to the ethical dilemmas presented to them on Friday evening, at his first Hong Kong event in a decade.
The lecture at CUHK was well oversubscribed, with some 2,000 free tickets being snapped up in just over 90 minutes last week. Organisers from Chinese University’s Research Centre for Human Values said there was demand for at least 6,000 seats based on registration numbers.
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The lecture, titled “What Money Can’t Buy: the Moral Limits of Markets”, is based on his bestselling book of the same name.
Sandel said he was looking forward to “hearing the students respond to the ethical dilemmas on money, markets and morals in our society and to see how their thinking has evolved”.
Working- and middle-class families have not enjoyed the benefits of recent economic growth, and this is an unresolved challenge in Europe, China and Hong Kong.
Professor Simon Haines, director of the centre and chairman of CUHK’s English department, hoped the lecture would broaden student perspectives on ideas about politics, culture and identity.
Commenting on the challenges in advanced economies and societies in tackling the gap between rich and poor, Sandel said: “Working- and middle-class families have not enjoyed the benefits of recent economic growth, and this is an unresolved challenge in Europe, China and Hong Kong.”
The professor also drew parallels between the situation in Hong Kong and American attitudes toward the current US presidential election debates.
“In almost every society in the world, there is frustration with the quality of public discourse,” he said.
The frustration with the establishment has reached a level where people are looking for alternatives, Sandel said.
“Often, those alternatives are not very attractive ... giving expression to the frustration with established politics and established public discourse,” he added.
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Sandel is known for his “Justice” course at Harvard, which he has taught for two decades and has been made into a TV series. In South Korea, 14,000 people flocked to hear him speak, and his translated Harvard lectures have received more than 30 million hits from Chinese viewers.
Seeking to explain his popularity on the mainland, the professor suggested that people are beginning to wonder whether there is something more to the good life than material satisfaction.
Referring to the audience for the event, CUHK’s Professor Haines said: “This generation of students is not just any generation – they are the ones who are going to have to see Hong Kong through this massive transition towards 2047. By the time we get to 2047, these will be the leaders of the community.”
“As we know, Hong Kong is going through a difficult transition phase now. And any example you can set in the community for civilised, reasonable discussion is really important for Hong Kong,” he added.
