Rob Reich is a professor of political science at Stanford University, where he is also the director of the Center for Ethics in Society, co-director of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, and associate director of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. His scholarship in political philosophy engages with the work of social scientists and engineers. An author, Reich’s most recent books are System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot and Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better. He is a board member of Boston Review, Giving Tuesday, and the Spencer Foundation. Reich’s recognition includes the Walter J. Gores award, Stanford’s highest honor for teaching.
Previously
In their new book, co-authors and Stanford professors Rob Reich and Mehran Sahami argue that big tech’s obsession with optimization and efficiency has sacrificed fundamental h...
Worried about the health of our democracy? There’s a bright light. Nation-wide the social sector is expanding to include NGOs led by a new generation, entrepreneurs building c...
Unconscious bias is at work in every aspect of our society, with subtle — and sometimes dramatic — daily repercussions, from classrooms to boardrooms to newsrooms. It has an e...
When, how much, and to whom people give is influenced by laws governing everything from the creation of foundations and nonprofits to generous tax exemptions for donations of...
When we speak and associate with others in real life, the First Amendment governs interactions, granting broad rights of individual speech and association. Yet when we interac...
The public’s opinion of institutions of higher learning is diminishing. Whether it is because of the high cost or perceived ivory-tower elitism, or due to worry about an overl...
We don’t need fewer arguments in American civic life today, we need less stupid ones. That means we need arguments that are more emotionally intelligent and more deeply rooted...
Ideas about living a moral life can be found in all cultures across time. In previous eras, education was meant to inculcate personal virtue and shape character. In centuries...
Big philanthropy can contribute to a democratic society by addressing problems that neither government nor the private sector will take on. Yet philanthropic institutions and...
In the past, popular movements have forced major industries to confront their need for ethical reform. But today’s media, policymakers, and activists don’t yet seem prepared t...