Iranian Philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo Named 2027 Spinozalens Prize Laureate
Prof. Ramin Jahanbegloo is a political philosopher and the Executive Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, as well as the Vice-Dean of the School of Law at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) - a partner institution of the EU-VALUES Network.
The International Spinoza Prize Foundation has announced that Iranian philosopher Prof. Dr. Ramin Jahanbegloo has been selected as the laureate for the prestigious Spinozalens prize in 2027. The award, sometimes called the "Dutch Nobel Prize", is presented every two years to a thinker who has made significant contributions to political theory, ethics and philosophy.
The theme for the 2027 prize is "Free Thinking". In selecting Prof. Jahanbegloo, the independent jury cited his "original and outstanding contribution to reflection on this urgent theme." They noted that for Jahanbegloo, free thinking goes beyond the individual right to think and speak freely. In his writings, he has called free thinking "the art of non-conformity" and "an indictment of mediocrity, orthodoxy and populism."
Jahanbegloo draws inspiration from both Western and non-Western traditions in his work, citing figures like Baruch Spinoza, Mahatma Gandhi, Arthur Schopenhauer, Albert Camus, and Hannah Arendt. The jury believes his cosmopolitan perspective will enrich public debate in the Netherlands and Flanders.
The philosopher's personal history was also noted by the jury. Jahanbegloo has written about his experience of imprisonment in his native Iran in the memoir Time Will Say Nothing: A Philosopher Survives an Iranian Prison. Since moving abroad, he has taught philosophy in Canada and India and become a prolific author on topics of ethics, non-violence, and cross-cultural understanding.
In a letter informing Jahanbegloo of the honor, Spinozalens Foundation Chair Prof. Dr. Jet Bussemaker wrote that the jury is "convinced that through your work and life, you have made an original and outstanding contribution to reflection on this urgent theme."
The Spinozalens prize is named after 17th century philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Previous laureates include Edward Said, Michael Walzer, Martha Nussbaum and Tzvetan Todorov. The award aims to stimulate public debate on the normative foundations of society.
The EU-VALUES Network extends its warmest congratulations to our esteemed colleague and partner, Prof. Dr. Ramin Jahanbegloo, on being named the 2027 Spinozalens Prize laureate. Ramin's tireless dedication to promoting free thinking, non-violence, and intercultural dialogue embodies the core mission of our network. We are so pleased to see his transformative work recognised with this prestigious honor!
Check out some of Ramin’s contributions to the EU-VALUES Network here: