Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig - Setting the Framework for the Study of Institutional Corruption

The first Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics Lab seminar of the 2014-2015 academic year convened on September 9, 2014, and was led by the Center’s Director, Professor Lawrence Lessig. During this introductory seminar, Lessig laid the framework for his definition of institutional corruption, discussed some common terminology relevant to this definition, and presented participants of the Lab seminar with several examples of its occurrence.

Lessig opened the seminar by contrasting his definition of institutional corruption with that of Dennis Thompson’s earlier conception of the term....

Read more about Lawrence Lessig - Setting the Framework for the Study of Institutional Corruption

Lawrence Lessig delivers inaugural Berlin Family Lectures

November 20, 2014

Lawrence Lessig delivered the inaugural Berlin Family Lectures October 16 - November 13, 2014. In a series entitled "America: Compromised," Lessig explored the application of institutional corruption to a wide range of public institutions with the aim to establish both the distinctiveness of the conception and its particular relevance to modern American life. The conception of institutional corruption, he argues, shows the need for a different perspective on the idea of institutional ethics – on focused less on the behavior of good or bad souls, and more on the consequences of...

Read more about Lawrence Lessig delivers inaugural Berlin Family Lectures
2014 Oct 20

Lawrence Lessig interviews Edward Snowden

12:00pm to 1:30pm

Location: 

Ames Courtroom, Harvard Law School

Institutional corruption and the NSA: Edward Snowden will be interviewed (via videoconference) by Lawrence Lessig about the NSA in a time of war, and whether and how the agency has lost its way.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required, and all attendees must present a ticket at the door. Registration is full, but we are accepting registrations for our overflow room (Milstein West AB, Wasserstein Building), in which we will be showing a live stream of the event....

Read more about Lawrence Lessig interviews Edward Snowden

Lawrence Lessig - Institutional Corruption

The first Edmond J. Safra Lab seminar of the 2011-12 academic year was led by Professor Lawrence Lessig. Participants discussed a chapter from Lessig’s book, “Republic, Lost”, and debated the distinctions between the degrees of influence that should (or should not) be of concern when considering the problem of institutional corruption.

Lessig opened the seminar with a brief description of “dependence” corruption as a subset of institutional corruption. Dependence corruption results from a general influence, which weakens the effectiveness of an institution, while also weakening...

Read more about Lawrence Lessig - Institutional Corruption
2011 Dec 06

In the Dock: Lawrence Lessig Interrogates Jack Abramoff About Corruption

5:30pm to 7:00pm

Location: 

Ames Courtroom, Austin Hall, Harvard Law School

The Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics has had a long list of great souls offering their insight about ethics, philosophy, and the question of institutional corruption. With this event, we launch an occasional series drawing on people from the other side of that ethical line. The "In the Dock" series will, when appropriate and edifying, interview the guilty, not the innocent or aspirational.

2013 Sep 18

Lawrence Lessig Interviews Robert Kaiser

5:30pm to 7:00pm

Location: 

Austin Hall, 101 East, Harvard Law School

Speaker: Lawrence Lessig, Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics; Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard Law School and Robert G. Kaiser, Associate Editor and Senior Correspondent, The Washington Post

Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership and Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, will interview Robert Kaiser, associate editor and senior correspondent at the Washington Post, about his two great books, So Much Damn Money...

Read more about Lawrence Lessig Interviews Robert Kaiser
2011 Oct 19

Prof. Lessig discusses his new book "Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress - And a Plan to Stop It"

Wed Oct 19, 7:00pm to Thu May 15, 9:00pm

Location: 

Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

Harvard Book Store is glad to welcome Harvard law professor LAWRENCE LESSIG for a discussion of his new book, Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress.

In an era of ballooning corporate campaign expenditures, unleashed by the Supreme Court in Citizens United, trust in our government is at an all time low. More than ever before, Americans believe that money buys results in Congress–and that our Republic has been lost.

Using examples that resonate as powerfully on the Right as on the Left, Republic, Lost not only makes clear how the economy of influence...

Read more about Prof. Lessig discusses his new book "Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress - And a Plan to Stop It"
2012 Feb 04

Conference on Institutional Corruption

9:00am to 5:00pm

Location: 

Milstein East, 2nd floor, Wasserstein Bldg., Harvard Law School

No ticket required.

Free and open to the public.

Breakfast (8:30 a.m.) and lunch (12:20 p.m.) will be available to registered participants (register here).

Conference Agenda:

CORRUPTIONS
9:00-11:30 a.m.

Chair: Michael Johnston
Bruce Cain
Robert Putnam
Susan Rose-Ackerman
Dennis F. Thompson
Mark Warren

...

Read more about Conference on Institutional Corruption
2011 Nov 01

A conversation between Lawrence Lessig and David Gergen

5:30pm to 7:00pm

Location: 

Ames Courtroom, Austin Hall, Harvard Law School

A conversation with David Gergen (Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School) and Lawrence Lessig (Roy L. Furman Professor of Law, Harvard Law School) about Prof. Lessig's new book Republic Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress--and a Plan to Stop it.

Refreshments will be available.

About Professor David Gergen.

Free and open to the public. Updates and (optional) RSVP on...

Read more about A conversation between Lawrence Lessig and David Gergen
2012 Oct 11

Office and Responsibility

(All day)

Location: 

Milstein East B, Harvard Law School

A symposium in honor of the career and contributions of Dennis F. Thompson

Co-sponsored by the Department of Government, the FAS Dean's Office at Harvard University, and the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics

Pages