# The Tyranny of Generosity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/the-tyranny-of-generosity/
- Published: 2022-01-24T18:18:57+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Why Philanthropy Corrupts Our Politics and How We Can Fix It**

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 characterised 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: realising 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 - publisher's promotional material](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2022/01/tyranny-of-generosity-lechterman-promo.jpeg)

## About Theodore Lechterman

**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 organisations and contributes
to public debates in North America and Europe.

## Reviews

“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](https://fundraising.co.uk/books/just-giving-why-philanthropy-is-failing-democracy-and-how-it-can-do-better/)
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

> Got me a new book.
> Always up for a philosophical take on philanthropy. [pic.twitter.com/sTZlYtbj1D](https://t.co/sTZlYtbj1D)
> — 📚Philliteracy📚 (@Philliteracy) [January 21, 2022](https://twitter.com/Philliteracy/status/1484475940302462978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

 https://mobile.twitter.com/OUPPhilosophy/status/1444324566600339464