Prof. Richard Sennett (London, New York)
Sociology, Cultural History
“Richard Sennett is one of today’s leading thinkers. In his widely read books, he effortlessly transcends the boundaries of the humanities, in particular the disciplines of sociology and history, psychology and philosophy. While his immense knowledge and his theoretical consciousness show he is a true academic, his life experience, his spirit and his style prove him to be an artist. He first and foremost addresses the issue of how we can live a fulfilled life in the face of the trend towards the disintegration of modern-day society. Sennett focuses in particular on the spheres of the city and labour. In both of these spheres, the task in hand is to develop anew the time-honoured virtues of self-realisation through skills, cooperation incorporating flexibility, and respect, including among the unequal. Sennett is a social critic who does not wallow in cultural pessimism. Like his tutors Hannah Arendt and David Riesman, he acts as a mentor, and occasionally as a prophet. But throughout, he, like his friend Michel Foucault, continues to stimulate the humanities.”