Dennis F. Thompson 1940-2025
Founding Director, Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics
Alfred North Whitehead Professor of Political Philosophy, Emeritus, Harvard University
It is with deep sorrow and abiding respect that we honor the life and legacy of Dennis F. Thompson, a towering figure in the field of political ethics, and the founding director of what is now the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. Dennis passed away on March 30, 2025 leaving behind a legacy that has shaped generations of scholars, public servants, and students committed to pursuing ethical reflection in public life.
Dennis established the Center as the Program in Ethics and the Professions in 1986 in collaboration with then-Harvard President Derek Bok, envisioning a vibrant, cross-disciplinary space where scholars from law, medicine, government, business, and the humanities could come together to confront the most pressing moral questions of public life. That bold vision has endured for nearly 40 years, thanks in no small part to Dennis’s steadfast leadership, his quiet generosity, and his unwavering intellectual presence.
For all of us at the Center—faculty, staff, fellows, and students alike—Dennis was more than our founder. He was a guiding spirit. He believed that ethics was not an isolated pursuit but something that should be woven into the fabric of public institutions and democratic practice. He challenged us to think rigorously, to listen carefully, and to lead with integrity. His warmth, humility, and fierce sense of fairness set the tone for the kind of community he hoped the Center would be—and that it has become.
Dennis was also a deeply respected teacher and mentor. After earning his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the College of William and Mary, and studying at Oxford as a Fulbright Scholar, he received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1968. He taught for nearly two decades at Princeton before returning to Harvard, where he would remain for the rest of his career, holding the Alfred North Whitehead Professorship of Political Philosophy and serving in key university leadership roles, including Associate Provost and Senior Adviser to the President.
A prolific scholar, Dennis reshaped the field of democratic theory. His pioneering work on deliberative democracy, most notably in collaboration with Amy Gutmann, advanced the idea that democracy depends not merely on voting or aggregation of interests but on reasoned discussion and mutual respect. Together, they co-authored Democracy and Disagreement and Why Deliberative Democracy?, works that continue to inform democratic theory and practice worldwide.
Dennis was also a thought leader on institutional corruption and political ethics. His influential distinction between personal and institutional corruption helped lay the intellectual groundwork for a new field of research and reform. Although the sheer volume of his achievements are too many to list, through all of his work, Dennis showed how philosophy could engage the real world—illuminating the responsibilities of individuals, the structure of public institutions, and the values that sustain democratic societies.
In recognition of his enduring contributions, the Center dedicated its seminar room in his name on October 11, 2023. The Dennis F. Thompson Seminar Room now stands as a tribute to his vision, a space that continues to host the very kind of ethical reflection and spirited discussion he championed.
Dennis is survived by his beloved family, including his wife Carol and sons David and Eric, who supported and shared in his lifelong devotion to education and public service. We extend our deepest condolences to them.
We will miss Dennis’s wisdom, his gentle humor, and his deep moral clarity. But more than that, we will continue to be guided by his example. His legacy is not only etched into the institution he built—it lives on in the questions we ask, the communities we nurture, and the kind of world we strive to create.
Remembering Dennis:
Eric Beerbohm: “Dennis built more than a center—he forged a living community of ethical inquiry with humor, heart, and unwavering integrity and vision. He was my north star—a mentor whose wisdom and warmth reshaped lives, mine most of all. He was the single greatest mentor in my life. His legacy endures in every question we dare to ask.”
Lawrence Lessig: “Dennis’ influence was persistent and profound, changing how many of us thought about time well spent. He is a model for how ideas spread, not with bombast or ego, but with joy and humility.”
Danielle Allen: “Dennis was a humane, generous, visionary leader who forged a community at the ethics center with humor and intelligence. I will miss him sorely.”
Nien-hê Hsieh: “Words cannot express the sadness I feel with the passing of Professor Thompson – Dennis. When I think of Dennis, there is Dennis the scholar – among his many important scholarly contributions, one that stands out is to remind us that no matter how well our institutions are designed, there are important ethical decisions that actors must make and that scholarship can help provide guidance. There is Dennis the builder. Thanks to his dedication, skill, leadership, and vision, we have today a vibrant community that spans the globe not only for the study and teaching of ethics, but also to promote ethical reasoning and the public interest. Then there is Dennis the person. I will always cherish his warmth, generosity, and humor – the twinkle in his eye, his laugh, the self-deprecating humor. Indeed, he was able to achieve so much precisely because of who he was. So as we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate his legacy and all that he has given us.”
