SAPIR Conversations

Aspirational no doubt. However, conversation with Prof. Sandel failed to question the underlying assumptions of inequality and the alleged equity of similar outcome. Furthermore, Prof. Sandel simply adds gloss of grievance and resentment to the Marxist perspective of the only meaningful categories for humans are class, race and gender. All judgments flow from those categories. What a hollow life. Unfortunately, Prof. Sandel and Bret Stephens fail to address the fundamentals of Judaism and economics which directly contradict the essential socialist principles of material equity as the predominate measure of the good society and person. First, the claim of inequality of income and class during the last 40 years is false. The Gini Coefficient measuring inequality has in fact not changed. Resentment and hubris as claimed by Prof. Sandel resulting from inequality in truth result from human gratitude and responsibility, personally, communally, morally and G-dly. For a moral philosopher like Prof. Sandel to dismiss free will and effort is a fundamental error. 14 o/o remains the poorest category of wealth which has been stable throughout the last century. Interested readers should read the works of Thomas Sowell, the “Dignity of Difference” by R. Sacks, z’l and “The Myth of Inequality”, by Phil Gramm. Second, the conflation of material outcome to the value of each citizen directly contradicts halakah and marshava of Judaism. Rather, Judaism recognizes the inherent and equal value of each individual created in the image of G-d irrespective of different individual talent. Merit is measured multi-dimensionally by the right and goodness of each person seeking to fulfill her mission from G-d on earth personally, communally and G-dly. To deny such as Prof. Sandel argues is simply not Judaism. In this season of repentance and return, Prof. Sandel has forgotten the very basis for human flourishing under G-d and Torah at Sinai.

Good discussions, but frustrating to have to click into the episode to see what it’s about. “a conversation with” can go from the titles.