The Knowles Lecture - How Capitalism Undermines Freedom
Published: 3 March 2026
Professor Lea Ypi talks about capitalism
A prominent tradition in philosophy maintains that, unlike other animals, humans experience freedom in connection to moral responsibility. On this account, freedom has both an internal and an external component.
Internal freedom is the freedom required to think what is right.
External freedom is the freedom required to do what is right.
In this event we highlighted how capitalism undermines these freedoms.
About Professor Lea Ypi
Professor Lea Ypi FBA, FAE is Ralph Miliband Professor in Politics and Philosophy at the LSE, a fellow of the Wissenschaftkolleg zu Berlin, and Honorary Professor in Philosophy at the Australian National University. She is the author of many books and articles, including Free: Coming of Age at the end of History (2021) and Indignity: A Life Reimagined (2025), both published by Penguin.
First published: 3 March 2026