After attending the ultra-conservative kingdom’s first-ever philosophy conference, American political philosopher Michael Sandel warned that the desire of Saudi authorities to promote critical thinking will determine if a reform effort initiated there succeeds.

After debating morality, justice, and universal obligation with Saudi students, Sandel, a Harvard University professor hailed by the Times Literary Supplement as the “most significant and influential living philosopher,” spoke to Reuters.

Philosophy is not taught in Saudi universities, and it has long been regarded as heretical thinking.

“Engaging in philosophical debates, especially in these circumstances, is a difficult, if not dangerous, effort. It seemed like a risk worth taking to me “In an online interview on Friday, Sandel stated.

The conference was part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s charm offensive, which is aimed at repairing the kingdom’s image, which has been tarnished by a poor human rights record, the war in Yemen, and the assassination of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate in 2018.

It’s difficult to foresee how the prince’s “experiment” will end, according to Sandel.

“But I think it’s at least worth trying to promote critical thinking,” he added, adding that Saudi Arabia’s younger population seemed eager to engage in philosophical debates.

“I want to promote it, while also acknowledging that the path it may finally take is rife with risk and uncertainty.”

MbS, or Prince Mohammed, is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and a vital US ally. Over the last five years, he has worked to consolidate power, marginalising opponents and detaining hundreds of priests, journalists, royals, and activists.

While many fundamental regulations remain in place, authorities have relaxed the guardianship system, which gives men substantial authority over the lives of their female relatives, and repealed a driving prohibition on women.

In order to diversify the economy away from oil, the monarchy also opened its doors to cinemas, concerts, and tourism.

It’s too early to draw judgments about the reform movement’s motivation, according to Sandel.

“Is this a real chance for philosophy and critical thinking to flourish? Is it for the sole purpose of… public relations? I’m not certain. Only time will tell if this is true “he stated

“All I can say is that I believe it is a possibility worth studying if there is a way to encourage philosophy and critical thinking in Saudi Arabia.”