Book Talk on Limitarianism—The Case Against Extreme Wealth by Ingrid Robeyns

About the Book

The growing concentration of wealth is one of the most pressing issues of our time, raising urgent questions about equality, democracy, and sustainability. In her book Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth, Ingrid Robeyns makes a bold argument for addressing this issue through limitarianism—the idea that there should be upper limits to how much wealth is morally permissible for an individual to possess.

Robeyns outlines a number of compelling ethical and political reasons to tackle extreme wealth concentration. She critiques the moral underpinnings of extreme wealth, pointing out that much of it is “tainted” by unjust origins. She posits that the same policies enabling extreme wealth also exacerbate poverty and erode democracy through unchecked campaign funding and lobbying. Moreover, she argues that extreme wealth is incompatible with environmental sustainability, as the wealthiest individuals have a disproportionately large carbon footprint. Her book explores these issues, offering critical insights into welfare, taxation, inheritance, and monetary policy.

Join philosopher Ingrid Robeyns, Chair of the Ethics Institute at Utrecht University, for a thought-provoking conversation about her book Limitarianism, with economist and Stone Center Director Steven Durlauf. Political scientist David Lay Williams of DePaul University will moderate the discussion. This event explores the ethical and practical justifications for limiting extreme wealth and encourages us to ask, “How much is enough?”

Schedule