英語で「正義」の話をしよう

[The issue of price gouging discussed in this audio excerpt seemed particularly relevant to the present crisis in Japan, so here it is.]

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Question: What if I recorded one of Professor Michael J. Sandel's books (Justice, to be more precise) and made the recording accessible to the public? Do you think I am morally in the wrong? What if the section I made available on the Net was only the beginning of chapter 1, the same section that can be read for free by anyone through Amazon's "Look Inside" feature (not to mention the fact that the content of the book is already made familiar through widely televised series of Professor Sandel's Harvard lectures)? Am I not actually helping with the sales of the book by talking about it on the Net and assisting with viral marketing, thereby further advancing the financial well-being of Professor Sandel? If so, from a utilitarian point of view, am I not increasing the benefit to everyone involved - including the listeners, the author, and myself? What would libertarians say, and how would Kant and Rawls retort? You might find answers to these questions if you went ahead and buy the book. (Satisfied, Professor Sandel?)

This is actually a good book to read out loud and make a recording of (for strictly personal use, of course). The vocabulary is not formidable for a book on philosophy, and it is worth listening to repeatedly because it takes a while for the argument in the book to really sink in (at least to an average reader like myself). But here's a piece of advice to Japanese learners of English: I would caution against trying to imitate Professor Sandel's oratorical style (or anyone else's, for that matter). I don't mean to imply there's anything wrong with his style of delivery. I just want to point out that while copying someone else's style of speech could be an amusing party trick, it can also damage your credibility if you want to be recognized as someone who has an opinion worth listening to. So, resist the temptation to imitate others, and try developing your original style of delivery.

英語音読