A world-renowned philosopher explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good? Michael Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality. Sandel shows the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgment it imposes on those left behind. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success--more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility and solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of work. The Tyranny of Merit points us toward a hopeful vision of a new politics of the common good.

Michael Sandel teaches political philosophy at Harvard University. Sandel’s latest book, The Tyranny of Merit: Can We Find the Common Good?, was named a best book of the year by The Guardian, Bloomberg, New Statesman, The Times Literary Supplement, Le Point (Paris), and New Weekly (Beijing). He has been a visiting professor at the Sorbonne, delivered the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at Oxford, and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Professor Sandel will receive the Edgar de Picciotto International Prize after Saskia Sassen, Joan Wallach Scott, Amartya Sen, Saul Friedländer, and Paul Krugman. This Prize awarded every two years was created as a tribute and token of thanks to the late Edgar de Picciotto whose generous donation enabled the Institute to finance a considerable part of the Edgar and Danièle de Picciotto Student House.

This lecture will be moderated by Director Marie-Laure Salles.