Ideas worth spreading

The lost art of democratic debate

1,661,922 views |

Michael Sandel |

TED2010

• February 2010

Democracy thrives on civil debate, Michael Sandel says -- but we're shamefully out of practice. He leads a fun refresher, with TEDsters sparring over a recent Supreme Court case (PGA Tour Inc. v. Martin) whose outcome reveals the critical ingredient in justice.

Democracy thrives on civil debate, Michael Sandel says -- but we're shamefully out of practice. He leads a fun refresher, with TEDsters sparring over a recent Supreme Court case (PGA Tour Inc. v. Martin) whose outcome reveals the critical ingredient in justice.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Michael Sandel

Political philosopher

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Michael Sandel teaches political philosophy at Harvard, exploring the most hotly contested moral and political issues of our time.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.