Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah has been awarded the $500,000 Kluge Prize for his significant contributions to public discourse on philosophy, ethics, language, nationality, and race. The award, announced by Carla Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, recognizes scholars whose work reach beyond academia to impact society.

Appiah, who is the Silver Professor of Philosophy and Law at NYU, has authored influential works like In My Father’s House and Cosmopolitanism. His publication record is extensive, including 20 books ((including novels and co-authored works), 3 novels, 24 chapters, and 18 articles, along with a column at the New York Times Magazine, where he writes about ethics and philosophy.

Appiah’s service to the literary and scholarly community is also noteworthy. He currently serves as president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has either being president or held board positions at PEN America, the National Museum for African Art, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Modern Language Association.

The Kluge Prize is established to honor scholars whose work contributes to key debates about the human experience. The prize is awarded every two years and covers a wide range of disciplines beyond what the Nobel Prizes typically recognizes, including history, philosophy, and sociology.

In the press statement, Hayden praised Appiah’s philosophical work as “elegant, groundbreaking, and highly respected,” and emphasized his ability to transcend traditional divisions in discussions about race and identity.

Stay tuned for upcoming programming celebrating Appiah’s work under the theme of “Thinking Together.”

Congratulations to Prof. Appiah!

*************

Photo by David Shankbone and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.