“Philosophy helps us understand which scientific questions matter”

Awarded the 17th BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities, philosopher Philip Kitcher explains how his work challenges deterministic interpretations of biology and traces the evolution of humanity’s ethical project, from early rules of cooperation to contemporary debates on genetics and animal welfare. He emphasizes the value of posing scientific questions that, even without immediate practical benefit, lead to far-reaching discoveries, and advocates for an education that goes beyond STEM to cultivate citizens capable of choosing their own path and strengthening democratic life.

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities has gone in its seventeenth edition to philosopher Philip Kitcher for his impact as a “humanist intellectual” whose trailblazing work addresses a broad spectrum of the core questions of our time.