This week, we announced that the Librarian of Congress will award the fourth John W. Kluge Prize for the study of humanity on Dec. 10. But we also announced that nominations will be accepted for a few more weeks, until July 15.
The $1 million Kluge Prize recognizes lifetime achievement in fields not traditionally represented by the Nobel Prize, such as “history, philosophy, politics, anthropology, sociology, religion, criticism in the arts and humanities, and linguistics.”
There is no doubt that Nobel laureates in “hard-science” fields like medicine, physics and chemistry have made incalculable contributions to society. But there are also great thinkers, those who help us frame and answer important questions about ourselves as people, the people whose ideas and writings are no less significant to human progress. Those are the people for whom the Kluge Prize was created.
If you know someone who might fit the bill, you can learn about the nominations process here.
June 25, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I vote for Al Gore… because, afterall, he predicted our current energy crisis/global warming issue a long time ago and we’re just now suffering the consequences of not heeding his foresight.
June 28, 2008 at 10:50 pm
In all honesty I feel there are too many individuals who’s ideas and writings, as you say, are of great significance to us, people who help us and so forth.
One prize for one individual, in my opinion is not enough to reward some of todays greatest minds and truly fabulous bodies.
July 1, 2008 at 11:34 am
I vote for Al Gore…
July 3, 2008 at 12:41 am
In all honesty I feel there are too many individuals who’s ideas and writings, as you say, are of great significance to us, people who help us and so forth.
One prize for one individual, in my opinion is not enough to reward some of todays greatest minds and truly fabulous bodies.
I totally agree man
July 4, 2008 at 8:26 am
I too would vote for Algore as Durgle says he was right in his prediction.
July 6, 2008 at 4:36 am
I do aggree to Duane. Now a value of money has been being a creativity parameter.
July 7, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Does Al Gore vote for himself?
July 9, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Haha, why would Al Gore vote for himself. A vote for self is null and void in my opinion.
July 9, 2008 at 4:05 pm
It is joke.
Maybe Gore is good man.
July 18, 2008 at 10:50 am
I also agree about Al Gore. He already won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on An Inconvenient Truth, so we should also recognize him as a philosopher of sorts for his insight on global warming.
July 19, 2008 at 1:45 am
Both Scientists and Thinkers are important for our socio-cultural advancement. I am a pro-science individual observing closely the scientific advancements world over. Only things is Non-science Thinkers should not get involved in blocking new inventions and technological developments.
July 31, 2008 at 1:14 am
I don’t think Al Gore fit to the award, it is on the study of Humanity. Gore made its Nobel on global warming though related only on its effect to humanity, it doesn’t fit to the main objective of study.
August 4, 2008 at 6:16 am
In all honesty I feel there are too many individuals who’s ideas and writings, as you say, are of great significance to us, people who help us and so forth.
One prize for one individual, in my opinion is not enough to reward some of todays greatest minds and truly fabulous bodies.
August 15, 2008 at 7:26 am
I vote for Al Gore… because, afterall, he predicted our current energy crisis/global warming issue a long time ago and we’re just now suffering the consequences of not heeding his foresight.
August 24, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Marvin Minsky is an excellent candidate for this prize.
September 17, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Very interesting article!