Markets without Limits: Moral Virtues and Commercial Interests

May you sell your spare kidney? May gay men pay surrogates to bear them children? Should we allow betting markets on terrorist attacks and natural disasters? May spouses pay each other to do the dishes, watch the kids, or have sex? Should we allow the rich to genetically engineer gifted, beautiful children? May you ever sell your vote?

Most people—and many philosophers—shudder at these questions. To put some goods and services for sale offends human dignity. If everything is commodified, the...