Jonathan Wolff, Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy, has been elected as the new president of the Royal Institute of Philosophy.

Past presidents include Lord Balfour (UK Prime Minister 1902–5) and philosophers Sir Anthony Quinton, Sir Anthony Kenny, Lord (Stewart) Sutherland and Baroness (Onora) O’Neill.

Jo is a political philosopher who works on questions of inequality, disadvantage and social justice. His work also covers applied topics such as public safety, disability, gambling, and the regulation of recreational drugs, and he has had a longstanding interest in health and health promotion, including questions of justice in health care resource allocation, the social determinants of health, and incentives and health behaviour. His forthcoming book City of Equals (OUP 2024) is co-authored with Avner de-Shalit.

As well as a distinguished researcher, Jo has influenced countless people through his teaching. At the School, he teaches on the Foundations module of our Master of Public Policy and co-teaches our online course Values and Public Policy, while his books An Introduction to Political Philosophy (OUP) and An Introduction to Moral Philosophy (Norton) are staples of philosophy degree reading lists across the UK and beyond.

Jo said: "It is an extraordinary honour to take on this role. The Royal Institute of Philosophy is committed to extending the reach of its activities to other disciplines and the broader public, drawing in a new range of audiences and participants. I am delighted to be part of these initiatives."

For more information see Jo’s biography.