Rob Reich
McGregor-Girand Professor of Social Ethics of Science and Technology, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for HAI, Professor, by courtesy, of Education, of Philosophy and Senior Fellow, by courtesy, at FSI
Political Science
Web page: https://robreich.stanford.edu
Bio
Rob Reich is professor of political science and, by courtesy, professor of philosophy and at the Graduate School of Education. He is a co-director of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (publisher of the Stanford Social Innovation Review), and associate director of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. He was faculty director at the Center for Ethics in Society for eight years, and he continues to lead its ethics and technology initiatives.
His scholarship in political theory engages with the work of social scientists and engineers. His newest work is on ethics and AI. His most recent books are System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot (with Mehran Sahami and Jeremy M. Weinstein, HarperCollins 2021) and Digital Technology and Democratic Theory (edited with Lucy Bernholz and Hélène Landemore, University of Chicago Press 2021). He has also written widely about philanthropy, including Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better (Princeton University Press, 2018) and Philanthropy in Democratic Societies: History, Institutions, Values (edited with Chiara Cordelli and Lucy Bernholz, University of Chicago Press, 2016). His early work is focused on democracy and education, including Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in American Education (University of Chicago Press, 2002) and Education, Justice, and Democracy (edited with Danielle Allen, University of Chicago Press, 2013). He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wired, The Guardian, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Rob is the recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Walter J. Gores award, Stanford’s highest honor for teaching. He was a sixth grade teacher at Rusk Elementary School in Houston, Texas before attending graduate school. He is a board member of the magazine Boston Review, of Giving Tuesday, and at the Spencer Foundation.
Academic Appointments
-
Professor, Political Science
-
Senior Fellow, Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI)
-
Professor (By courtesy), Graduate School of Education
-
Professor (By courtesy), Philosophy
-
Senior Fellow (By courtesy), Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Administrative Appointments
-
Professor of Political Science, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
-
Professor (by courtesy), Dept. of Philosophy, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
-
Professor (by courtesy), Graduate School of Education, Stanford University (2014 - Present)
-
Associate Director, Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (2019 - Present)
-
Co-Director, Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (2008 - Present)
-
Director, Center for Ethics in Society (2015 - 2023)
-
Faculty Affiliate, Center for Research on Foundation Models (2021 - Present)
-
The Stanford Alumni University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2010 - 2020)
-
Joint Appointment, Program Ethics in Society, Stanford University (2007 - Present)
-
Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow, Center for Human Values, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (2004 - 2005)
-
Visiting Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ (2009 - 2010)
-
Laurence S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow, Center for Human Values, Princeton University (2004 - 2005)
-
Visiting Assistant Professor, Center for Human Values, Princeton University (2004 - 2005)
-
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Foundation and National Academy of Education (2002 - 2002)
-
Fellowship, Stanford Humanities Center Faculty (2001 - 2002)
Honors & Awards
-
Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Teaching Prize, Phi Beta Kappa Society (2008)
-
The Walter J. Gores Award, Stanford University (2001)
-
Associated Students of Stanford University Distinguished Teaching Award, Stanford University (1999-2000)
-
Miriam Aaron Roland Volunteer Service Prize, Stanford University (2010)
Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations
-
Member, Board of Trustees, GiveWell.org (2013 - 2019)
-
Affiliate, Haas Center for Public Service
-
Affiliate, Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
-
Affiliate, Institute for Research on Education Policy and Practice
-
Reviewer, University of Chicago Press
-
Reviewer, Harvard University Press
-
Reviewer, Stanford University Press
-
Reviewer, Yale University Press
-
Reviewer, Palgrave MacMillan
-
Reviewer, Longman Publishers
-
Reviewer, Lexington Books
-
Reviewer, Routledge
-
Reviewer, Broadview Press
-
Reviewer, Ethics
-
Reviewer, Political Theory
-
Reviewer, Ethics and Economics
-
Reviewer, Canadian Journal of Philosophy
-
Reviewer, PS: Political Science & Politics
-
Reviewer, Perspectives in Politics
-
Reviewer, Politics, Philosophy & Economics
-
Reviewer, Social Theory and Practice
-
Reviewer, Educational Policy
-
Reviewer, Philosophical Review
-
Member of the Standing Committee on Civic Education and Engagement, American Political Science Association (2002 - 2005)
-
Member, Breadth Governance Board (2012 - Present)
-
Member, Committee, Study of Undergraduate Education at Stanford (2009 - 2012)
-
Member, Stanford University Strategic Advisory Group (2007 - Present)
-
Member, Education Society Annual Program Committee (2005 - 2006)
-
Member, Committee, Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid (C-UAFA) (2009 - 2011)
-
Member, Faculty Service Learning Committee, Haas Center for Public Service (2010 - 2013)
-
Member, Faculty Steering Committee, McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society (2010 - 2013)
-
Member, Faculty Steering Committee, Structured Liberal Education (SLE) (2010 - 2013)
-
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2006 - 2008)
-
Member, Curriculum Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2005 - 2008)
-
Member, Multiple Search Committees, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University
-
Member, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
-
Member, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2001 - 2002)
-
Chair, Graduate Admissions Committee, Deptartment of Political Science, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
-
Member, Stanford University Faculty Senate (2012 - 2014)
-
Member, Review Committee, Miriam Roland Prize, Haas Center (2013 - 2013)
-
Member, Advisory Board, Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) (2011 - Present)
-
Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Spencer Foundation (2004 - 2004)
-
Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Spencer Foundation (2005 - 2005)
-
Grant//Fellowship Reviewer, Stanford Humanities Center (2002 - 2006)
-
Founder and Co-Director, Stanford Summer Philosophy Discovery Institute (1999 - 2004)
-
Co-Founder and Instructor, Hope House Scholars Program (2001 - Present)
-
Member, Board of Trustees, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating Committee (2008 - Present)
-
Member, Board of Trustees, Boston Review (2012 - Present)
-
Senior Research Associate, Aspen Institute Program on Education in a Changing Society (1999 - 2005)
-
Moderator, Aspen Institute Seminars (2008 - Present)
-
Member, National Commission on Civic Investment in Public Education (2010 - 2012)
-
Advisor, Giving Tuesday campaign (2012 - Present)
-
North American Reviews Editor, The Journal of Philosophy of Education (2002 - 2005)
Program Affiliations
-
Center for Human Rights and International Justice
-
Modern Thought and Literature
-
Public Policy
-
Science, Technology and Society
Professional Education
-
Ph.D., School of Education, Stanford University, Philosophy of Education (1998)
-
M.A., School of Education, Stanford University, Philosophy (1998)
-
B.A., Yale University, Philosophy (1991)
Research Interests
-
Civic Education
-
Philosophy
-
Poverty and Inequality
-
Sociology
2024-25 Courses
-
Independent Studies (13)
- Directed Reading
EDUC 480 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Directed Reading and Research in Political Theory
POLISCI 239 (Spr) - Directed Reading and Research in Political Theory
POLISCI 339 (Spr) - Directed Reading in Education
EDUC 180 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Graduate Independent Study
MTL 398 (Win, Spr) - Independent Studies in Ethics in Society
ETHICSOC 199 (Win, Spr) - Individual Work
AMSTUD 195 (Win) - Individual Work, Undergraduate
PHIL 197 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Master's Thesis
EDUC 185 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Practicum
EDUC 470 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Senior Honors Thesis
URBANST 199 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Supervised Internship
EDUC 380 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum) - Tutorial, Senior Year
PHIL 196 (Aut, Win, Spr, Sum)
- Directed Reading
-
Prior Year Courses
2023-24 Courses
- Philanthropy and Civil Society
EDUC 374, POLISCI 334, SOC 374, SUSTAIN 324 (Spr)
2022-23 Courses
- 20th Century and Contemporary Political Theory
POLISCI 437C (Spr) - Defending Democracy at Home and Abroad
POLISCI 62 (Spr) - Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change
COMM 180, CS 182, ETHICSOC 182, PHIL 82, POLISCI 182, PUBLPOL 182 (Win) - Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change (WIM)
CS 182W (Win) - Introduction to Tech Ethics and Policy Career Pathways
ETHICSOC 285, ETHICSOC 85 (Spr) - Philanthropy and Civil Society
EDUC 374, POLISCI 334, SOC 374, SUSTAIN 324 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Research and Methods in Political Theory
POLISCI 333M (Spr)
2021-22 Courses
- Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change
COMM 180, CS 182, ETHICSOC 182, PHIL 82, POLISCI 182, PUBLPOL 182 (Win) - Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change (WIM)
CS 182W (Win) - Philanthropy and Civil Society
EDUC 374 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Philanthropy and Civil Society
LAW 7071 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Philanthropy and Civil Society
POLISCI 334, SOC 374 (Aut, Win, Spr) - Research and Methods in Political Theory
POLISCI 333M (Spr)
- Philanthropy and Civil Society
Stanford Advisees
-
Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
Caitlin Brust, Alexandra Minsk, Chloe Stowell -
Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor
Emily Van Duyn -
Doctoral Dissertation Advisor (AC)
Joseph Cloward -
Doctoral Dissertation Co-Advisor (AC)
Natasha Patel -
Doctoral (Program)
Alexandra Minsk
All Publications
- Digital Technology and Democratic Theory edited by Bernholz, L., Landemore, H. 2021
- System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot HarperCollins. 2021
- Just Giving: Why Philanthropy is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better Princeton University Press. 2018
-
Trust, Transparency, and Replication in Political Science
PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS
2017; 50 (1): 172-175
View details for DOI 10.1017/S1049096516002365
View details for Web of Science ID 000393670300033
-
Repugnant to the Whole Idea of Democracy? On the Role of Foundations in Democratic Societies
PS-POLITICAL SCIENCE & POLITICS
2016; 49 (3): 466-471
View details for DOI 10.1017/S1049096516000718
View details for Web of Science ID 000385021200012
- Philanthropy in Democratic Societies Philanthropy in Democratic Societies edited by Reich, R., Cordelli, C. University of Chicago Press. 2016
- Education, Justice, and Democracy edited by Reich, R., Allen, D. University of Chicago Press. 2013
- Equality, Adequacy, and K-12 Education Education, Justice, and Democracy 2013
- Toward a Political Theory of Philanthropy Giving Well: The Ethics of Philanthropy edited by Illingworth, P., Pogge, T., Wenar, L. Oxford University Press. 2010
- Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin edited by Reich, R., Satz, D. Oxford University Press. 2009
- When Adequate Isn’t: The Retreat From Equity in Educational Law and Policy and Why it Matters Emory Law Review 2006; 56 (3)
-
The liberal reach
DISSENT
2004; 51 (1): 72-75
View details for Web of Science ID 000188767900016
- A Liberal Democratic Approach to Language Justice Political Theory and Language Justice edited by Kymlicka, W., Patten, A. Oxford University Press. 2003: 80–104
- Bridging Liberalism and Multiculturalism in Education University of Chicago Press. 2002
-
Equality and Adequacy as Distributive Ideals for Education
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON MORAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION: SHAPING CITIZENS AND THEIR SCHOOLS
2019: 174-187
View details for Web of Science ID 000587722000010
-
Introduction to the symposium on equality of opportunity and education
THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION
2016; 14 (1): 63–64
View details for DOI 10.1177/1477878515619787
View details for Web of Science ID 000411987000004
-
WHY HOME SCHOOLING SHOULD BE REGULATED
HOMESCHOOLING IN NEW VIEW, SECOND EDITION
2016: 133–43
View details for Web of Science ID 000375631000010
-
Gift Giving and Philanthropy in Market Democracy
CRITICAL REVIEW
2014; 26 (3-4): 408-422
View details for DOI 10.1080/08913811.2014.969095
View details for Web of Science ID 000345834800009
-
Strings Attached: Untangling the Ethics of Incentives. (Book Review)
PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS
2014; 12 (1): 223–25
View details for DOI 10.1017/S1537592714000243
View details for Web of Science ID 000334925400049
-
Philanthropy and Caring for the Needs of Strangers
SOCIAL RESEARCH
2013; 80 (2): 517-538
View details for Web of Science ID 000322505100015
- Introduction Education, Justice, and Democracy edited by Reich, R., Allen, D. University of Chicago Press. 2013
-
Ethics and Inequality
OCCUPY THE FUTURE
2013: 47–57
View details for Web of Science ID 000318227200003
-
Occupy the Future
OCCUPY THE FUTURE
2013: 3-+
View details for Web of Science ID 000318227200001
- Ethics and Inequality Occupy the Future edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdam, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
- Occupy the Future edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdam, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
- Equality, Adequacy, and K12 Education Education, Justice, and Democracy University of Chicago Press. 2013
- Occupy the Future edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., Adam, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
- What are Foundations For? Boston Review 2013
- Introduction Occupy the Future edited by Reich, R., Grusky, D., McAdams, D., Satz, D. MIT Press/Boston Review. 2013
- The Great Recession, Philanthropy, and the Nonprofit Sector: Has the Great Recession Made Americans Stingier? The Great Recession edited by Grusky, D., Wimer, C. Russell Sage. 2011
-
Has the Great Recession Made Americans Stingier?
GREAT RECESSION
2011: 294–313
View details for Web of Science ID 000361553500011
- Report of the National Commission on Civic Investment in Public Education Public Education Network. 2011
- Educational Authority and Children’s Rights Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Education edited by Siegel, H. Oxford University Press. 2009
- Toward a Humanist Justice: The Political Philosophy of Susan Moller Okin : A Critical Introduction to the Work of Susan Moller Okin Oxford University Press. 2009
-
INTRODUCTION TO THE SYMPOSIUM ON EQUALITY AND ADEQUACY
EDUCATION FINANCE AND POLICY
2008; 3 (4): 399-401
View details for Web of Science ID 000208268900001
-
ON REGULATING HOMESCHOOLING: A REPLY TO GLANZER
EDUCATIONAL THEORY
2008; 58 (1): 17–23
View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1741-5446.2007.00273.x
View details for Web of Science ID 000212765700002
- Common Schooling and Educational Choice as a Response to Pluralism Choice Policies and Outcomes: Philosophical and Empirical Perspectives on Limits to Choice in Liberal Democracies edited by Feinberg, W., Lubienski, C. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. 2008
- On Regulating Homeschooling: A Reply to Glanzer Educational Theory 2008; 58 (1): 17-23
-
How and why to support common schooling and educational choice at the same time
JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
2007; 41 (4): 709-725
View details for Web of Science ID 000253480100014
-
Identity in Democracy (Book Review)
THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION
2007; 5 (2): 241–47
View details for DOI 10.1177/1477878507078858
View details for Web of Science ID 000437768200009
-
Citizenship under fire: Democratic education in times of conflict. (Book Review)
JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
2007; 41 (1): 167-169
View details for Web of Science ID 000245923300013
- Review essay on Amy Gutmann’s Identity in Democracy Theory and Research in Education 2007; 5 (2): 241-51
- Equality and Adequacy in the State’s Provision of Education: Mapping the Conceptual Landscape Getting Down to Facts 2007
-
Introduction to symposium The work of Susan Moller Okin
THEORY AND RESEARCH IN EDUCATION
2006; 4 (1): 7–8
View details for DOI 10.1177/1477878506060679
View details for Web of Science ID 000437756400002
- Philanthropy and its Uneasy Relation to Equality Taking Philanthropy Seriously: Beyond Noble Intentions to Responsible Giving edited by Damon, W., Verducci, S. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. 2006: 33–49
- Editor’s Introduction Theory and Research in Education 2006; 4 (1): 7-8
- Frederick Hess’s With the Best of Intentions: How Philanthropy is Reshaping K-12 Education Teachers College Record Cambridge: Harvard Education Press. 2006
- Philanthropy and Its Uneasy Relation to Equality Philosophy and Public Policy Quarterly 2006; 26 (3/4)
- Why Homeschooling Should Be Regulated Homeschooling in Full View edited by Cooper, B. S. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing. 2005: 109–120
-
Democracy at Risk How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation and What We Can Do About It PREFACE
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: VII-+
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200001
-
National Electoral Processes
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: 21–66
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200003
-
Toward a Political Science of Citizenship
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: 1–20
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200002
-
The American Metropolis
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: 67–116
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200004
-
Conclusion: Assessing Our Political Science of Citizenship
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: 155–78
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200006
-
Associational Life and the Nonprofit and Philanthropic Sector
DEMOCRACY AT RISK: HOW POLITICAL CHOICES UNDERMINE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
2005: 117–54
View details for Web of Science ID 000302219200005
- The Civic Perils of Homeschooling Georgian Journal of American Studies 2005
- A Failure of Philanthropy: American Charity Shortchanges the Poor, and Public Policy is Partly to Blame Stanford Social Innovation Review 2005: 24-33
- Service Learning and Multiple Models of Engaged Citizenship Boston University Journal of Education 2005; 186 (1): 23-28
- Minors Within Minorities: A Problem for Liberal Multiculturalists Minorities Within Minorities: Equality, Rights, and Diversity edited by Spinner-Halev, J., Eisenberg, A. Cambridge University Press. 2005: 209–26
- Democracy at Risk: How Political Choices Undermine Citizen Participation, and What We Can Do About It Brookings Institution Press. 2005
-
Liberal pluralism?
2003 Philosophy of Eduction Meeting
PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 2004: 74–75
View details for Web of Science ID 000222180800009
- Hope House Scholars: The Universal Reach of the Liberal Arts Dissent 2004: 72-5
- A Brief Response to Papers by David Laitin and François Grin Cultural Diversity versus Economic Solidarity edited by Van Parijis, P. Brussels: Deboeck Université, Francqui Scientific Library. 2004: 211–12
-
Multicultural accommodations in education
Symposium on Collective Identities and Cosmopolitan Values
OXFORD UNIV PRESS. 2003: 299–324
View details for Web of Science ID 000229757600012
- Liberal Pluralism? A Response to Richard Shweder Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL:. 2003: 74–5
- Multicultural Accommodations in Education Education and Citizenship in Liberal- Democratic Societies: Teaching for Cosmopolitan Values and Collective Identities edited by Feinberg, W., McDonough, K. Oxford University Press. 2003: 299–324
- Review of "Archaic Torso of Apollo" Teaching With Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach edited by Intrator, S. M., Scribner, M. San Francisco: Jossey Bass. 2003
- Common Schooling and Educational Choice A Companion to the Philosophy of Education edited by Curren, R. Blackwell Publishers. 2003: 430–442
-
The civic perils of homeschooling
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
2002; 59 (7): 56-59
View details for Web of Science ID 000174976500012
- Testing the Boundaries of Parental Authority Over Education: The Case of Homeschooling Political and Moral Education, NOMOS XLIII edited by Macedo, S., Tamir, Y. New York: New York University Press. 2002: 275–313
- Opting Out of Education: Yoder, Mozert, and the Autonomy of Children Educational Theory 2002; 52 (4): 445-61
-
What good is philosophy?
Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society
PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 2001: 90–93
View details for Web of Science ID 000177349400013
- Stephen Macedo's Diversity and Distrust: Civic Education in a Multicultural Democracy Philosophy in Review 2000; 20 (6): 430-1
-
Families and schools as compensating agents in moral development for a multicultural society
JOURNAL OF MORAL EDUCATION
1999; 28 (3): 283-298
View details for Web of Science ID 000082955800003
-
Communitarian liberalism and common schools
Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society
PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 1998: 335–337
View details for Web of Science ID 000086905700052
- Confusion About the Socratic Method: Socratic Paradoxes and Contemporary Invocations of Socrates Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL. 1998
-
Revitalizing the ecosystem for youth - A new perspective for school reform
PHI DELTA KAPPAN
1997; 78 (6): 464-470
View details for Web of Science ID A1997WG12700011
-
The paradoxes of education in Rorty's liberal utopia
Annual Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Education-Society
PHILOSOPHY EDUCATION SOC PUBLICATIONS OFFICE. 1997: 342–351
View details for Web of Science ID 000086904900053
- The Paradoxes of Education in Rorty’s Liberal Utopia Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Education Society, Urbana, IL.. 1996
- Re-Examining the Team A - Team B Exercise The International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence 1989; 3 (3): 387-403