The Tyranny of Generosity

Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It

Theodore M. Lechterman

Advances a fresh critique of contemporary philanthropy through an exploration of the value of democracy
Sheds new light on why democracy matters and what it demands from philanthropic giving and the policies that structure it
Covers several important topics, including public subsidies for private giving, the use of donations for political speech, instruments of perpetual giving, and the rise in giving by commercial corporations
Anchors conclusions about philanthropy in systematic arguments expressed in plain language and illustrated with vivid examples

The Tyranny of Generosity

Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It

Theodore M. Lechterman

Description

The practice of philanthropy, which releases private property for public purposes, represents in many ways the best angels of our nature. But this practice's noteworthy virtues often obscure the fact that philanthropy also represents the exercise of private power.

In The Tyranny of Generosity, Theodore Lechterman shows how this private power can threaten the foundations of a democratic society. The deployment of private wealth for public ends may rival the authority of communities to determine their own affairs. And, in societies characterized by wide disparities in wealth, philanthropy often combines with background inequalities to make public decisions overwhelmingly sensitive to the preferences of the rich. Allowing private wealth to dictate social outcomes collides with core commitments of a democratic society, a society in which people are supposed to determine their common affairs together, on equal terms.

But why exactly is democracy valuable? How should these values be weighed against the liberty of donors and the many social benefits that philanthropy promises? Lechterman explores these questions by examining various topics in the practice of philanthropy: the respective roles of philanthropy and government, public subsidies for private giving, the use of donations for political speech, instruments of perpetual giving, the rise in giving by commercial corporations, and "effective altruism" as a guide for individual giving. These studies build to a surprising conclusion: realizing the democratic ideal may be impossible without philanthropy--but making philanthropy safe for democracy also requires fundamental changes to policy and practice.

The Tyranny of Generosity

Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It

Theodore M. Lechterman

Chapter 1. Looking the Gift Horse in the Mouth
Chapter 2. Of Sovereignty and Saints
Chapter 3. A Farewell to Alms
Chapter 4. Donation and Deliberation
Chapter 5. In Usufruct to the Living
Chapter 6. The Effective Altruist's Political Problem
Chapter 7. Milton Friedman's Corporate Misanthropy
Chapter 8. Conclusion: Overthrowing the Tyranny of Generosity

The Tyranny of Generosity

Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It

Theodore M. Lechterman

Author Information

Theodore M. Lechterman is a political philosopher who studies how democratic principles apply to emerging practices. Currently a Research Fellow at the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford, he has held previous fellowships at Stanford University, Centre for Advanced Studies Justitia Amplificata (Frankfurt), and the Hertie School (Berlin). He regularly advises organizations and contributes to public debates in North America and Europe.

The Tyranny of Generosity

Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It

Theodore M. Lechterman

Reviews and Awards

"In this clear and fair-minded book, Lechterman argues that we shouldn't only evaluate philanthropy based on how effectively it alleviates poverty or how faithfully it accords with liberal principles of justice. We should also examine it from a democratic perspective, and think about how it shapes power relations. Supporters and critics of philanthropy alike will learn a lot from Lechterman's careful and penetrating analysis." -- Jennifer Cyd Rubenstein, University of Virginia

"Technocrats and effective altruists look to philanthropy as a prized means to improve the world beyond the dysfunctions of democracy and pains of political engagement. Lechterman's magnificent book shows why philanthropy must be assessed in relation to democratic norms and reveals a complex appraisal of the practice of altruism." -- Rob Reich, Stanford University, author of Just Giving: Why Philanthropy Undermines Democracy and How It Can Do Better (Princeton University Press, 2018)

"Philanthropy has become a major ethical-institutional practice in our societies. But good deeds can have effects that undermine the fibers of democracy. In his masterful and well-balanced treatise, Theodore Lechterman alerts us to the power dynamics unleashed by transforming private wealth into public service and influence. This is a timely and eye-opening book, both philosophically nuanced and politically astute." -- Rainer Forst, Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy, Goethe University Frankfurt