person1981–present

Michael Kingsley

Disciplines:

Summary

Michael Kinsley is an American political journalist and commentator, former editor of The New Republic and founding editor of Slate, known for his proposal that government exit the marriage business entirely.

Core Contribution

Kinsley proposed that the state should cease recognizing marriage altogether, leaving it to churches and individuals, so the government can remain neutral on the contested moral question of what marriage is — an argument Sandel uses to probe whether liberal neutrality on the good life is achievable.

Key Spikes & Highlights

Government exit from marriage (proposed the state recognize only civil unions, leaving 'marriage' entirely to religious and private institutions)
Crossfire co-host liberal (represented the liberal position on CNN's Crossfire for many years)
New Republic editorship (edited The New Republic from 1979 to 1982 and again 1985 to 1996)
Slate founding editor (founded Microsoft's online magazine Slate in 1996 — one of the first major web-only publications)

Historical Influences

John Stuart Mill Milton Friedman

Intellectual Lineage

American liberal journalism Libertarian political theory influence

Contemporaries & Peers

Ellen Goodman David Letterman Bill Clinton

Minds Influenced

No recorded minds influenced.

Intellectual Posterity

Government marriage disestablishment argument

Discussing