Michael J Sandel

Hailed as the most popular political philosopher of his generation and a legend in the lecture hall who regularly draws audiences of thousands, Professor Michael J Sandel will give a keynote speech on the subject of Public Service and the Future of Democracy followed by a question and answer session chaired by the Presiding Officer.

The Harvard professor is one of the best known American public intellectuals. His Harvard lectures fascinate students eager to discuss the big questions of modern political life: bioethics, torture, rights versus responsibilities, the value we put on things.

He is famed for his course Justice, which he has delivered for two decades and is now available as a 12-part TV series with companion website and book: Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? In his newest book, What Money Can't Buy, he challenges the idea that markets are morally neutral.

His on-going series The Public Philosopher can be heard on BBC Radio 4, which also broadcast his Reith Lectures in 2009. His program Justice: A Citizen's Guide to the 21st Century was seen on BBC Four, and he has taken his electrifying lectures on a global tour across five continents to great acclaim.

The John Smith Centre for Public Service acts as a focus for debate, research and insight into restoring the notion of public service as a noble vocation.

It is based at Glasgow University and has the support of all the major UK political parties. Outreach projects will form a key part of the work to encourage more people of all backgrounds to contribute to public life.