Berggruen Prize

Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture
Awarded forIdeas of broad significance for shaping human self-understanding and the advancement of humanity
LocationLos Angeles, California, United States
Presented byBerggruen Institute
Reward(s)US$1,000,000
First awarded2016
Last awarded2023
Currently held byPatricia Hill Collins (2023)
WebsiteBerggruen Institute

The Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture is a US$1-million award given each year to a significant individual in the field of philosophy.[1] It is awarded by the Berggruen Institute to "thinkers whose ideas have helped us find direction, wisdom, and improved self-understanding in a world being rapidly transformed by profound social, technological, political, cultural, and economic change."[2]

The Berggruen Prize was first awarded in 2016 with the overt purpose of becoming a "Nobel prize for philosophy".[3][4] The first recipient of the Berggruen Prize was the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, whose work "urges us to see humans as constituted not only by their biology or their personal intentions, but also by their existence within language and webs of meaningful relationships."[5][6][7][8][9]

The prize is awarded annually in October, with a ceremony at the New York Public Library. In 2016, ceremony speakers included University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann and journalist Fareed Zakaria.[10] The ceremony honoring Japanese philosopher Kojin Karatani was held in Tokyo, Japan.[11] In 2024, the ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with journalist Michel Martin serving as a speaker. [12] [13]

  1. ^ Hermann, Julia; Hopster, Jeroen; Kalf, Wouter; Klenk, Michael (June 16, 2020). Philosophy in the Age of Science?: Inquiries Into Philosophical Progress, Method, and Societal Relevance. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-4284-4.
  2. ^ "The Berggruen Prize". The Berggruen Institute. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Forbes, Miguel. "Berggruen Institute Launches $1M Nobel Prize for Philosophy". Forbes. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  4. ^ "A Nobel Prize for Philosophy? (updated) – Daily Nous". dailynous.com. 8 October 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Think Tank Creates $1 Million Philosophy Prize Because 'Ideas Matter'". huffingtonpost.com. September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "Leiter Reports: A Philosophy Blog: New Berggruen Institute for Philosophy and Culture, plus an annual $1 million prize". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  7. ^ "Nicolas Berggruen's $1 Million Philosophy Prize – artnet News". Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  8. ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (October 4, 2016). "Canadian Philosopher Wins $1 Million Prize". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Rothman, Joshua. "How to Restore Your Faith in Democracy", The New Yorker, November 11, 2016.
  10. ^ Gordon, Amanda L. "Billionaire’s Supper Club Directs Philosopher’s Arrow at Trump", Bloomberg, December 2, 2016.
  11. ^ Ishida, Yuki (December 9, 2022). "Kojin Karatani the 1st Asian to win 'Nobel Prize for philosophy'". The Asahi Shimbun.
  12. ^ Ross, Janell (2023-10-25). "A Conversation With the Winner of a $1M Philosophy Prize". TIME. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  13. ^ "Dr. Patricia Hill Collins Awarded Berggruen Prize at Ceremony in Washington, D.C. – Berggruen Institute". www.berggruen.org. Retrieved 2024-10-22.