Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture

Name: Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture

Award Amount: $1,000,000

Information and Eligibility:
The Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture is one of the world’s most prestigious awards recognizing individuals whose ideas have profoundly shaped human self-understanding and advanced fundamental thinking about culture, society, ethics and the human condition. Administered by the Berggruen Institute, the prize honors scholars, philosophers, public intellectuals and thinkers whose work has significantly influenced public life and contributed to meaningful global dialogue.
Eligibility criteria include:

• Field of Contribution: Nominees must have produced outstanding, original intellectual work in philosophy, social theory, cultural thought, ethics, political philosophy or related disciplines.
• Impact: Work should demonstrate substantial influence on contemporary thought, public policy, cultural understanding or humanity’s evolving self-awareness.
• Nomination: Candidates are nominated by an international committee of scholars, writers and cultural leaders; individuals cannot apply directly.

Application Requirements:

• This is not an open-application scholarship; candidates are selected through a confidential nomination and review process.
• Nominators submit detailed dossiers outlining the nominee’s intellectual contributions, published works, global impact and relevance.
• Documentation typically includes CVs, publication lists, major works, citations and assessments from recognized experts.

Selection Criteria:

• Originality, depth and significance of the nominee’s intellectual contributions.
• Demonstrated influence on global discourse, public life, or the humanities broadly conceived.
• Long-term impact of the nominee’s ideas on cultural, ethical, societal or philosophical understanding.
• Alignment with the Institute’s mission of fostering critical thought about the future of humanity.

Additional Details:

• The prize is awarded annually to a single laureate; past recipients include globally influential philosophers and theorists.
• The $1 million award supports the laureate’s continued research, writing, public engagement and development of major new works.
• The prize ceremony typically includes public lectures, discussions and international forums highlighting the winner’s work.

Deadline:

• November

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