2025. 3. 21. 14:02ㆍ카테고리 없음
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? - Why This Book Made Me Think Hard
Hey everyone! Today, I want to talk about Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel. I first read this book a few years ago, and recently picked it up again—it still blows my mind. It’s all about what justice really means and whether what we think is right is actually right. I’m not usually into philosophy books, but Sandel’s style feels like a classroom chat, and I got hooked. So, I’ll break down the key points and mix in my own thoughts. Want to ponder justice with me? Let’s dive in!
1. The Start: What Even Is Justice?
Justice comes from Sandel’s famous Harvard course of the same name. Right from the start, it throws big questions at you. Like, “What’s the just choice in tough situations?” Imagine a shipwreck in a storm—should you sacrifice one person to save everyone else, or let everyone die? Reading that, I was like, “What would I do?” It’s a total brain teaser.
Sandel splits justice into three big ideas: maximizing happiness for the most people (utilitarianism), freedom and individual rights (libertarianism), and virtue and community values (communitarianism). These are the book’s backbone, and he ties them to real-life examples. I loved how it made philosophy feel so close to everyday life.
2. Utilitarianism: Happiness for All, Really?
First up is utilitarianism, from Jeremy Bentham. It’s all about “the greatest good for the greatest number.” If something benefits more people, it’s just. Sandel brings up a creepy Roman example—throwing Christians to lions to entertain the crowd. Is that okay if it makes most people happy? That gave me chills. Measuring justice by happiness totals feels off to me.
He also uses modern cases, like a car company not recalling a faulty model because fixing it costs more than lawsuits. I thought about a friend who got hurt in a car accident—if a company skipped a recall for profit, I’d be furious. Utilitarianism feels cold, like it ignores the little guy for the big picture.
3. Libertarianism: Personal Rights Above All?
Next is libertarianism, with John Rawls as the star. Here, justice is about fairness and individual rights. Rawls talks about the “veil of ignorance”—imagine designing society without knowing if you’d be rich, poor, healthy, or sick. I was like, “Wow, that’s actually fair!” It’s a cool way to think about justice.
One example is wealth distribution. Should we tax the rich more to help the poor? Rawls says inequality’s fine only if it benefits everyone. It reminded me of tax debates back home—some folks grumble about paying more, while others say it’s for the common good. I lean toward fairness, but figuring out where the line is? That’s tricky.
4. Communitarianism: Virtue and Community Matter
Then there’s communitarianism, rooted in Aristotle. Justice here isn’t just about numbers or rights—it’s tied to a community’s good life and virtues. Sandel uses a golf cart debate: should disabled people use carts on a course? The law said yes for rights, but traditionalists said no for the game’s spirit. I got sidetracked wondering, “What’s golf’s essence anyway?”
He also digs into moral hot topics like abortion and same-sex marriage. It’s about what a community values. Reading this, I thought of debates in my country—personal choice versus social norms. It’s tough to pick a side after seeing all these angles.
5. Memorable Stories from the Book
What I love about this book is the real-world stories. Here are a few that stuck with me:
- The Trolley Problem: A train’s about to hit five people, but pulling a lever saves them by killing one. Pull it or not? I asked a friend, and they just said, “I don’t know.” Me neither—I’d freeze up.
- Draft Dodging: In the U.S., could rich folks pay to skip the draft? Fair if the poor end up fighting? It made me think of military service debates here. Justice shouldn’t bend for money, right?
- Price Gouging: After a hurricane, is it okay to jack up prices? Market logic says yes, but people hate it. I felt like, “Making money off a crisis is kind of gross.”
6. My Take and Personal Vibes
Honestly, this book gave me a headache—in a good way. The questions piled up, and I’d close it thinking, “What is justice?” But it was fun too. I used to see things as black-and-white, but Sandel cracked that wide open.
Back in college, I was in a debate club. We once argued all night about animal testing. I took the utilitarian side—humans matter more—but now I’d rethink the animals’ side too. This book brought back those moments and made me question myself all over again.
7. A Handy Table of Justice Views
I put the three big ideas into a table to make it easy to compare. Check it out!
| Utilitarianism | Jeremy Bentham | Greatest good for most | Practical, results-focused | Might sacrifice the few | Feels too math-y, cold |
| Libertarianism | John Rawls | Rights and fairness | Fairness, reduces inequality | Hard to apply in real life | Love the veil idea |
| Communitarianism | Aristotle | Virtue and community good | Values morals, togetherness | Could overlook individuals | Warm, but tricky balance |
8. Questions That Linger
Sandel doesn’t hand out answers—he keeps asking stuff like, “Is justice universal or does it change with time?” “Is what I think is right actually right?” Now, when I see news about wealth gaps or climate issues, I wonder, “Where’s the justice here?” During COVID, vaccine distribution got me thinking too—rich countries hogging doses versus sharing. Back then, I just wanted my shot, but now I see the bigger picture.
9. Why I’d Recommend This Book
Justice feels like philosophy, but it’s so tied to life—law, politics, ethics, you name it. Since reading it, I catch myself spotting justice angles in the news. It’s also great for chats with friends—try asking, “Would you pull the trolley lever?” over dinner. If philosophy scares you, don’t worry—it’s super readable.
Sandel’s lectures are on YouTube too, and they’re awesome after the book. Watching him debate with students, I was like, “I want in on that!” It’s perfect for anyone curious about big questions without the heavy jargon.
10. Wrapping Up
This book doesn’t solve justice for you—it throws questions that make you look inward. I kept asking myself, “What’s my version of justice?” There’s no perfect answer, but just thinking about it feels worthwhile. Anyone else want to wrestle with this stuff? Give it a read—you’ll get that mix of brain pain and fun I did.
I’m curious what you think now. What’s justice to you? Would you pull that trolley lever? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them! Oh, and should I whip up an image for this? Maybe the book cover or a lecture scene? Let me know!