Kwame Anthony Appiah, Scholar, Awarded $500,000 Prize by Library of Congress

Author and scholar Kwame Anthony Appiah has recently been awarded a prestigious lifetime achievement prize of $500,000 by the Library of Congress. The 70-year-old Appiah has been honored with the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity, which is bestowed every two years to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the humanities and social sciences that have impacted public affairs and civil society. Known for his works like “Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers” and “The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen,” as well as for co-editing “Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American Experience,” Appiah’s scholarly endeavors have been acclaimed.
Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, praised Dr. Appiah’s intellectual contributions, describing his philosophical work as sophisticated, innovative, and widely respected. She emphasized that his discussions on race and identity transcend conventional boundaries and promote conversations that bridge societal divisions. Appiah currently holds the position of Silver Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University, serves as the president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and has previously been the president of PEN America.
Notable past recipients of the Kluge Prize include Danielle Allen and Drew Gilpin Faust.