The most kind hearted intellectual I have come across. I am not even a legal professional but I watched all his Harvard lecture series.

I have a brother who is literally a rocket scientist. He has a PH.D. from Princeton. My father owned a small sawmill. My brother has nothing but contempt for manual labor and today still espouses the idea that the "smart people" (him) should decide how things should be done and the less educated should sit down and shut up, even though our father became quite wealthy and enjoyed physical labor (making things) his whole life. I started stacking lumber and driving a forklift when I was 14 years old. I still work in the lumber business as an inspector (even though I have my B.A. in Sociology), which is a physically intensive form of work for a 62 year old. My brother believes I am dirt poor (I am not) and incapable of any other work even though my I.Q. tested close to his in school and I ranked in the top 10% nationally in my class. He is convinced he is socially, morally, and intellectually superior to his family. I respect anyone on my crew who do the work that is required of them. It is hard work and I don't try to make it worse for them by demanding the dangerous or impossible.

Awesome clip. I'm having a moment of utter realisation. How lucky I am that I can just comfortably sit down on the chair and listen to his wise words

This is one of the most fantastic TED talks I have seen in a long time. Dignity of work is at the center of each of our ego's and the suggestion that those who don't go to college are ill-fated to work at McDonalds is part of such considerable divison. The sentiment that working at McDonalds is inherently a bad thing strips those who work there of their dignity and consequently their purpose. Without a feeling of purpose and belonging, people cannot be cohesive and communities begin to fray. Not everyone can be doctors, engineers, and laywers. There is dignity in every job and we need to acknowledge and thank those who do the required work that helps us all.

This reminds me of Warren Buffett talking about how he was very lucky to be born at just the right time, in just the right place, and as a man with right skin colour, so that his skills and interests happened just what was right to make him fabulously wealthy and successful, and that if he lived thousands of years ago, he would've probably been eaten by a lion.

I watch your video 12 years ago, that time are looking very young, now search you here. I feel how time flies

Dignity of Labour. Important to keep in mind.

I disagree with 90% of what this man says and still respect him deeply. Thank you mister Sandel, it is important that we talk about this.

professor Sandel has profoundly influenced me- the harvard lectures and the way the way he perceives things has left me in awe. massive respect for him. May he live a long, healthy life. it hurts to see him grow old :(

Hearing this is like a fresh breeze flowing through my anxious heart

I hope this man never dies lol; it's hard to see him getting old.

I am a business student but this gentlemen made me fall in love with political philosophy. It's hard to see him grow old.

The dog at the front of the pack forgets that he's not the only one pulling a sled.

My all time favourite. I wanna meet him and take a bow.

Every Sandel video is a pearl of wisdom. I wish he made more

this guy is very sharp! he says all of this without looking at notes, amazing

Professor Sandel is one of the most astute academics of our time...Although I have not met him...he has become a very significant mentor in my life...and has allowed me to experience Harvard, through his lecture series. Thank you, Sir.

Indeed! Humanity rules.There is nothing wrong with earning a bachelor's, masters or doctorate and the like. "Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up." by Jesse Jackson. We live borrowed lives.

Incredibly moving and healing. The talk on Sam Harris’ podcast also excellent.

I think it is v dangerous to blame "merit" in general. We do not want to encourage lack of merit, but instead we need to re-educate ourselves about what merit really is.

The background sounds of the birds embellishes everything

That was a great video. I just started reading “The Meritocracy Trap”, and this video sums it up very well.

I listened to this from start to finish, and my god, it was like a punch in the face. Total wake up call.

Bless you, Sir! So glad DAVOS listened to you! What a surprise that was!!

Harvard Justice lecture brings me here

Circumstances at birth certainly play a roll, but I also have found that for myself, and for most people who do not inherit their wealth, the words of Samuel Goldwyn ring true: "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

I was quite misled by the applause at the beginning thinking it was a talk given to a crowd. Starting to miss those

Bravo three times over! I watched this TED talks 5 times and I think I may watch it again and again! What he said is the truth at all!

As with all things, moderation is key. Thinking that everything you own and are is the result of your own merits and nothing else is a mistake. Believing that everyone who made it big is the result of the talents they were born with and luck is a mistake too. People who were very blessed with their upbringing and physical condition will oftentimes lean towards the former, while those who had a rough start to life will lean towards the latter. Both extremes dont solve any problems, but generate a fair share of them in their own way.

Been watching old videos of Prof.Sandel earlier and wished there is a new one. My thoughts came true! Thanks Ted!

Extremely thanks for compelling me to thinks the other aspects for life.

I hope there us more material of this kind to raise the awareness of the people about it

I admire even looking at him. So thoughtful sincere and frank

Everyone talks about the importance of a college degree, yet almost no one mentions that not a degrees will provide opportunities. Universities are happy to take the money of those following their dreams. But don't expect there to be high demand in your dream field.

So if you are successful you are lucky, if you are unsuccessful you'r unlucky - that's an extreme point of view, to say the least.

Thank you.

Difference between the intelligent and the wise

Korean medical school students should watch this.

I re-watch this video several times a year. It's a great summary of his excellent book.

I barely watch TED. But this is really recommendable. I could see more than 95% of similarity between Sandell's idea and mine and this very close similarity makes me feel sure and proud of myself.

A new ted every other day is good. Equality is important, but isnt success a mix, that is always there. Its always a mix of capability, chance and whether you actually try...

There's a great book on the matter called The Case Against Education (Caplan). The argument is that the reason so many low-skill jobs are requiring college, is due to a something called Credential Inflation. Diplomas are mostly about "signaling", and not really about what you actually learn in University (Courses like Engineering, which have "real" value by the work market for the learned material are the exception, not the rule). Education is already extremely wasteful due to extreme interventions of government on the Education market (such as loans which would never exist in a free market).

Eye-opening.

Absolutely profound on every level!!!

Every Heart Has A Pain .. Only The Way Of Expression Is Different .. Some Hide It In Eyes While Some Hide In Their Smile. -The Shades

This is extremely important right now.

What a beautiful thought!

Thanks sharing it helps

Hey I saw him on Rising!!

The main issue of this statement refers that the salary is not defined by the importance of your job, rather it is unfortunately defined by the law of offer and demand (a basic economical rule that has defined all societies during the entire human history). Therefore, there are no chances to change this distribution only by a philosophical public decision or wish, in special when resources are scarce (despite that we agree that these good wishes sound fair, but they are unfortunately unpractical). That is, there will be always someone that will be able to do the same job by a lower salary when you talk about of a not qualified job that is well paid, i.e., a job that you don't need great skills, therefore, anyone can do it (if you increase the salary you will have a massive demand for that position). In contrast, if you have a company and you decide to duplicate salaries, it is very likely that your company will be not profitable with time and your company will be disappeared with time because of the natural market competition. Unfortunately, the rule that defines the economy does not match with social wishes. We still live in a society that resources are scarce, therefore, the salary is basically defined as the minimum payment that someone will afford to pay you by your services and skills. For example, if humans invent a robot that can cure people better than doctors, there will not demand to pay for human medical treatments. How can you change social behavior just with good wishes?. Everyone agrees that everyone should get a better salary, but the reasonable question is How can you do it?. I agree that the world is absolutely unfair for most people and there is a lot of injustices about wealthy distribution and opportunities. I agree that only a small percentage of the population has real opportunities in life, however, we are in an age of the history that people have more opportunities than in the entire history of humanity. Noting that people that live in developing countries have still lower chances that someone that lives in the USA. How are you going to balance it (with good wishes?). The solution is not only to point the problem out.

Reminds me of Gladwell's Outlier and David Brooks.

Man just an unemployed passout from India. I don't know how we will change this meritocracy and how we will bring the most important value that we are lacking in our current fast paced world of humility, but I can confirm to the fact that his Justice series of Harvard was equal to my enlightening. It is like knowing the secrets of everything that is happening around us. I hope whoever reads this, watch those 10_12 videos. That's the most important thing that has happened in my life

I love this talk. Thank you so much for talking about this topic.

Amen brother. You are absolutely right

What a man and what a brilliant ethical conscience that should be taught in schools/colleges world-wide over. What is most remarkable about Sandel is that he "subscribes to a certain version of communitarianism (although he is uncomfortable with the label), and in this vein he is perhaps best known for his critique of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice. Rawls's argument depends on the assumption of the veil of ignorance, which Sandel argues commits Rawls to a view of people as "unencumbered selves". His opinions are 100% accurate and absoloutely defy the soci-economic, political and moral stance that so many wealthy people detatch themselves from the very reality they selfishly indulge in a fantastical self-appointed universe. 👍👏👍👏👍👏

One thing to remember, If you win, remember the role of luck and good fortune If you lose, work harder(do what you can with what you have)

Earnings are not the same as winnings .

Thanks

Amazing! Thank you, sir!

Sensacional!!!!

I really love who he quotes and bringing it full circle.

I love watching ted talks ...

The change that is needed is the change in attitude of the people and nothing to do with meritocracy.

For anyone who is interested in learning more about this concept, read The Meritocracy Myth by Stephen J. McNamee. I read and studied this for a Sociology course and it was fascinating.

Powerful analysis. Merit is for sure a major factor and one should be proud of success, BUT using it as an excuse to just don't take into account the other factors and look down on people who have their struggles in life is for sure one of the roots of today's political conflict. Many people feel unheard and discarded... this whole myth that the poor are simply "lazy" is so low resolution that really makes you wonder if the upper class super-achievers actually dont want to deal with some uncomfortable truths.

Thank you

Civic virtue we need now !!!!!

The downvotes are people who wrongly assumed what the talk would be about after 1 minute, peaced out, and missed a great talk.

Thanks Michael. We need trust, more than ever.

¡Gracias por los subtítulos en español!

Dear Prof. Sandel, can you get together with Anand Girardharas, and others who have seen this set of issues, and get the biggest stage with the biggest microphone possible to get the leaders of the world to wake up!! Spot on and thank you. I had already started reading your book when a friend alerted me to this video

watching your Harvard series and you're becoming one of my favorite people in this planet.

This talk is great.

It's an interesting argument. I wonder about "how" one can implement and achieve what Prof. Sandel puts forward.

Outstanding ! , and by the way , I am not with out merit by way of luck or work as I perceive, and also a few others than myself. Damn the rest , though I will listen to them ardently.

A four year degree is no longer a guarantee of success. It is about as good as a highschool diploma, with debt.

At 3:36 spanish translation is wrong, the meaning is backwards: "Your failure is our (nuestra) fault", when it should be "your failure is your (tú) fault".

I'm a Korean student who studies philosophy in high school. I'm very fascinated by professor Sandel's philosophy. I think he is the most prominent political-philosopher in the world.

Its also important to bring back those industries that train and develop their workers, enabling them to gain good enterprise and life skills whether through apprenticeships or less structured on the job training.

The dark side of the "Common Good" is the free-loader!

Oh my god. I have been soooooo frustrated as someone who has been part of Honor's Programs throughout his life for this VERY REASON. The people that I met in these programs thought they were actually better human beings than those who were not. And it was frankly disgusting! The horrible things they said and did out of that hubris are not even worth mentioning. And that tyranny took a sharp real turn when i fell out of the Honor's Program due to dealing with the constant barrage of homophobia I fielded, day in and day out, in school. They turned their words against me and said the most cruel and horrible things about me simply because I was different. They were threatened by that difference, and they let me know it EVERY SINGLE DAY. And I nearly took my life for it. Fortunately, I survived it. But the sad thing, is many do not. Some of us cave from all that pressure, many times because its not the only we're dealing with on our plate. And its been amazing what I've been able to accomplish with the help of some amazing allies in college. This trauma left me disabled and yet today, here I stand, with the help of so many others who continued to believe in me when I had stopped believing in myself. And I'm about to graduate from an English Lit Honors Program at my school. And then I intend to pursue a Masters in some sort of therapeutic work so that I can help people who struggle like I did and help them become the best versions of themselves with all the support I can give and create for them to make their dreams come true.

Mr. Sandel ; A great human being

Thanks 🙏

You sir, are Absolutely right

Just found out about this guy through a university assignment and wow! Its great to hear an academic reminding us of the importance of simple human decency at times like these! brilliant.

3:33 Dr Sandel There is a particular reason why we say that change is the only constant. It is necessary for every human to upgrade within time. For instance: In India, about 50-60 yrs ago, Stenography or short hand writing was in wide demand. Most people who are in their 70s and 80s in have taken a course it. However, one does not need them now owing to presence of voice recorders now even present in a smartphone. Hence I would like know the reason behind why upgrading within time is being villainized by you. Thank you

I just love this great man I followed on justice harvard org great speech on what is right to do he is awesome

And just like that we have the idea and language needed to transform this country

Sandel claimed that workers such as sanitation workers ought to be paid more because they are equally as important as a doctor or a ceo but the reason those positions get paid more is bc there are less ppl that r capable of working those professions. It’s supply and demand.

This is the truth for our entire world culture today.

Well said. 👍👏

I like some of this guy’s ideas, but I would like to hear his alternative to merit. He has spoken in a few places, but I have yet to hear his solution. Yes, luck plays too great a role, and yes, benefits are too frequently passed down from wealthy parents to their wealthy children, but what should we do with this? I’m glad he makes these points and do think we need a greater respect for work, just interested in how we can act on this and create a more fair and just world where talent and grit are rewarded irrespective of wealth and connections.

The only problem with meritocracy is either when there is not enough or it gets diluted and soiled. We need to learn the value of saying "No". "No" you are not good enough for high school - go to a vocational school. "No" you are not good enough for university - go to a technical college. The Germans and Dutch have been applying this to great success. They have better trained professionals and happier people. University degrees lost their market value when they were given out en mass. Now the very same mistake is repeated with Graduate degrees and even PhDs. And obtaining one neither proves training nor is it proof of ability. Because, "No", everyone cannot become anything they set their minds to. THAT is reality. Anything else is just ego-pandering, and turns petulant children into frustrated adults.

thank you for making me realized how entitled and privileged i am acting, God bless Sir, more wisdom to impart please if you may.

best book I ever read thank you professor

A moral perspective into work and labour. Great!!

Fantastic view, chance my mind on the matter.

Great !! You Sir Is the best teacher for new generation thankyou .. God bless you and God bless USA 🇺🇸😇😎♥️

Hear hear! Well said!

Very important message for americans. Some european countries already have a similar culture to what is described as necessary in the video, and it does work out well for them.