On Wednesday, May 14, the Fondation Prince Pierre and Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco jointly hosted an exceptional evening at the Maison de la Poésie in Paris to honour philosopher Jacques Rancière, laureate of the 2023 Prix de la Principauté…
As part of this prestigious distinction, awarded for the entirety of his philosophical work, Rancière delivered a powerful keynote lecture entitled La Force des sentiments.
In his address, Rancière explored the complex relationship between knowledge, emotion, and power. He questioned the apparent fragility of reason in the face of today’s dominant emotional narratives and imagery, which so often serve mechanisms of control. While enlightened minds lament the triumph of the irrational, Rancière challenged the audience to consider how knowledge itself produces sentiments—and why these often lack the strength to resist the tide of resentment. Drawing on literature, he suggested that fiction may offer unique insights into the interplay of understanding, feeling, and political emotion where traditional political science falls short.
This lecture formed part of a continuing partnership between the Fondation Prince Pierre and Les Rencontres Philosophiques, which together award the annual Prix de la Principauté. The prize celebrates not a single publication but a lifetime of philosophical contribution that has influenced thought across fields such as politics, ethics, psychoanalysis, theology, and anthropology.
Following in the footsteps of past laureates like Julia Kristeva (2021) and Philippe Descola (2022), Jacques Rancière was honoured for a body of work that has consistently challenged norms and expanded the horizons of critical thought.
