ASSAF SHARON IN CONVERSATION WITH LEONARD BENARDO
SAMSTAG, 26.09.2026 / 12h30
AKADEMIE DER BILDENDEN KÜNSTE WIEN, SITZUNGSSAAL
Where does the border between political manipulation and persuasion, nudging, or everyday deceit lie? Drawing on philosophy, history, and contemporary politics, philosopher ASSAF SHARON, coauthor of Captive Minds: A Study of Manipulation (Belknap Press, 2026), will argue that manipulation is not merely a cause for the spread of misinformation. Rather, it is a profound exercise of power aimed at stripping away human freedom. In conversation with Open Society Foundations Vice President LEONARD BENARDO, Sharon will examine how conspiracy theories and cognitive traps are corrupting the formation of public opinion, and what conceptual tools we need to defend the increasingly fragile institutions of liberal democracy.
ASSAF SHARON is a professor of philosophy at Tel Aviv University as well as a senior fellow at Molad: The Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy. Sharon has been part of the Israeli peace movement for many years and has advised parties, politicians, and organizations. His articles have been published by The New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, Boston Review, and Liberties, among others. He recently published Captive Minds: A Study of Manipulation (Belknap Press, 2026), coauthored with Avishai Margalit.
© AS