Public Philosophy and Consulting
I enjoy showing how perspectives from philosophy and political theory can help us navigate problems in public and professional life, and I periodically contribute to current debates that relate to my research. See the links below for recent interventions.
Working with teams of academic colleagues and business professionals at Compass Ethics and Principia Advisory, I also devote much of my spare time to advising complex organizations on a range of ethical challenges. I have advised clients in AI, robotics, enterprise software, biotech, professional services, philanthropy, and humanitarian aid on identifying their core values, allocating and exercising power, and determining their external responsibilities. If your organization might benefit from guidance on these or related matters, please get in touch.
Articles
“The Societal Role of Social Entrepreneurship” (with Johanna Mair). Stanford Social Innovation Review. Oct. 2, 2024.
“The Philosophical Challenges of Augmenting Democracy with AI.” IE Insights. Oct. 9., 2023.
“Give and Take.” The Mint Magazine. Jun. 26, 2023.
“The Tyranny of Generosity.” Oxford Philosophy Magazine 13: (2022): 18–20.
“The Tyranny of Generosity and How We Can Tame It.” HistPhil. Mar. 30, 2022.
“Spotify’s Spotty Platform Rules Won’t Stop Misinformation” (with B. Lange). Medium. Mar. 9., 2022.
“So You Say You Want a Boycott.” Compass Ethics Journal, Feb. 21, 2022.
“Philanthropists Seeking to Fix Big Problems Must Tread Carefully – Here’s How They Can Make Their Efforts More Compatible with Democracy.” The Conversation. Jan. 3, 2022.
“Corporate Giving: A Tyranny of Generosity?” Compass Ethics Journal, Nov. 22, 2021.
“Will AI Make Democracy Obsolete?” Public Ethics Blog, Stockholm Centre for Ethics of War and Peace. August 4, 2021.
“Political Theory and the Nonprofit Sector” (with Rob Reich), HistPhil, Apr. 24, 2020.
“Digital Technology’s Democratic Deficits,” Blog of the APA, Mar. 5, 2020.
“The Ethics of #DeleteFacebook,” Blog of the APA, Dec. 4, 2018.
“One Big Problem with How Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos are Spending a Small Share of Their Fortune,” The Conversation, Sep. 19, 2018. Republished by Salon.
“An Ethical Guide to Responsible Giving,” The Conversation, Nov. 28, 2017. Republished by Chicago Tribune, among others.
“Why Harvey Weinstein Can’t Redeem Himself through Charity Alone,” The Conversation, Oct. 16, 2017.
“What Jeff Bezos Gets Wrong (and Right) with his Populist Philanthropy,” The Conversation, June 26, 2017. Republished by Salon, Business Insider, SFGate, and others.
“Is Populist Criticism of Philanthropy Justified?” HistPhil, May 11, 2017.
Keynotes & Panels
Keynote, “The Problem of ‘Ethicophobia’ in AI Governance,” Inaugural Address of the UNESCO Chair, IE University, Oct. 28, 2024
Keynote, “Democratization of AI: Fact or Fantasy?” World Summit AI, Amsterdam, Oct. 9, 2024
Keynote, “Contribuciones de la filantropía a la IA ética,” Foro Internacional RedEAmérica, Panama City, Oct. 3, 2024
Moderator, “AI and Democracy: Exploring the Global Impact through the Lens of the UNESCO Recommendation,” UNESCO Policy Dialogue on AI Governance, UNESCO HQ (Paris), June 28, 2024
Panelist, Policy Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Democracy, European University Institute, May 30-31, 2024
Keynote, “AI Ethics at Work: How Can We Automate the Workplace Responsibly?” Global Human Capital Strategy, IE University, May 22, 2024
Keynote, “Responsible Innovation with AI: Ethical Risk Forecasting,” Responsible Tech Salon, IE University, Mar. 8, 2024
Panelist, “All hands on deck: shaping an inclusive future of AI,” UNESCO Global Forum on Ethics of AI, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Feb. 5-6, 2024
Keynote, “La inteligencia artificial salvará la democracia o la destruirá?,” La Caixa Forum, Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 30, 2024
Moderator, “Managing AI Ethics: Alumni Expert Perspectives,” Responsible Tech Salon, IE University, Jan. 25, 2024
Panelist, “The Next Fifty: Grand Finale,” IE University, Nov. 14, 2023
Panelist, “The Human-AI Nexus,” AHRMIO Annual Conference, IE University, Oct. 16-18, 2023
Panelist, UNITAR/IE conference “Three Horizons: Governance, Education and the Future of Work,” IE University, Sep. 29, 2023
Keynote, “Can AI Save Democracy?” IE Global Alumni Weekend Masterclass, Jun. 3, 2023
Panelist, Book launch of Santiago Iñiguez’s Philosophy, Inc., IE University, Feb. 16, 2023
Panelist, “The Future of Responsible Business,” Foro I+D+C, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Jan. 26, 2023
Keynote, “Managing Ethics for the Silent Revolution,” Future Trends Forum, Fundación Innovación Bankinter, Madrid, Dec. 1, 2022
Interviews & Media Coverage
Puri, S. 2024. “Democratizing Al: The Role of Governments, Critical Perspectives, and Philosophical Insights in Shaping Al Policy.” Regulating AI Podcast. Oct. 9.
Srivastava, V. 2024. “If democracy is to survive the age of AI, it must be updated.” The Indian Express. Mar. 25.
Stahl, A. 2024. “AI’s Impact on Public Safety & Elections – An Interview with Prof. Lechterman.” One Step Ahead (podcast). Mar. 22.
Weekman, K. “MrBeast’s extravagantly charitable videos have been called ‘stunt philanthropy.’ Is that a bad thing?” Yahoo News. Nov. 8, 2023.
Farmer, K. and Musante, S. “AI Ethics in Privacy and Governance: An Interview with Theodore Lechterman.” Washington University Review of Philosophy 3 (2023): 115-23.
Van Kessel, D. et al. “Philanthropy allows the rich to influence Europe’s policy agenda.” Follow the Money. Jun. 9, 2023.
Collins, K. “Theodore Lechterman on Automating the Democratic Process.” Virtual Sentiments (podcast). Mar. 29, 2023.
Gunderman, R. “In defense of generosity.” Law and Liberty. Oct. 25., 2022.
Visram, T. “The truth about Elon Musk, Sam Bankman-Fried, and effective altruism.” Fast Company. Sep. 14, 2022.
Srinath, I. “Two books explore both sides of the philanthropy debate.” Alliance Magazine. May 31, 2022.
Hartmann, M. E. “Philanthropy’s Corruption of Politics, and vice versa.” The Giving Review. Jan. 10, 2022.
Clark, B. “The Man with the Rawlsian Tattoo.” Oxford Review of Books. Winter 2021/2022.
Cimmino, N. “Philosoph: «Nicht Probleme lösen, sondern Veränderung fördern»,” Echo der Zeit, SRF Radio (Switzerland), Dec. 8, 2020.
Larsen, D. E. U. “Kunstdonorer i hardt vær,” Klassekampen (Norway), Aug. 17, 2019.
Frank, D. “Philanthropie und Macht,” UniReport der Goethe-Universität, July 11, 2019, p. 16.
Sun, R. “Hollywood's #MeToo Dilemma: When Alleged Predators Also Give Generously to Charity,” Hollywood Reporter, July 11, 2019.
Varagur, K. “By the Time a Natural Disaster Happens It’s Too Late to Help,” The Outline, Feb. 4, 2019.