邁剋爾·J. 桑德爾（Michael J. Sandel），當代美國最有影響的公眾知識分子之一。他是哈佛大學政治學教授，講授當代政治哲學與政治思想史，著作有《民主的不滿：追求公眾哲學的美國》、《自由主義與正義的局限》、《自由主義及其批評者》等。

A liberal society seeks not to impose a single way of life, but to leave its citizens as free as possible to choose their own values and ends. It therefore must govern by principles of justice that do not presuppose any particular vision of the good life. But can any such principles be found? And if not, what are the consequences for justice as a moral and political ideal? These are the questions Michael Sandel takes up in this penetrating critique of contemporary liberalism. This new edition includes a new introduction and a new final chapter in which Professor Sandel responds to the later work of John Rawls.