Mercer Times

Melissa Lane, a professor of politics at Princeton University, has received the Journal of the History of Philosophy's 2024 Book Prize. Her book, "Of Rule and Office: Plato's Ideas of the Political," published by Princeton University Press in 2023, explores ancient Greek political thought through Plato’s perspective on accountability in leadership.

Lane delves into Plato’s enduring question: "Who shall guard the guardians?" She notes that this issue continues to be relevant in modern politics. "Because that conundrum remains a problem for politics today, Plato's exploration of different ways to address it remains instructive," Lane stated.

The book originated from the Carlyle Lectures delivered by Lane at the University of Oxford in 2018. She was informed about her award while she was back at Oxford delivering Isaiah Berlin Lectures. The announcement was made during her final lecture in the series. Lane expressed joy over sharing this news with her Oxford colleagues who had attended her lectures six years prior. "Being able to share the good news in person with Oxford friends and colleagues who had attended the Carlyle Lectures six years ago was especially meaningful," she said.

Notably, Lane is unique in having presented both the Carlyle and Berlin Lectures at Oxford. In addition to her work at Oxford, she began a series of public lectures at Gresham College in London during the 2023-24 academic year. These lectures are part of Gresham College’s long-standing tradition and are accessible globally via streaming.

Princeton’s Humanities Council supported Lane's research for "Of Rule and Office" as well as her new project on ancient Greek lawgivers during her time as an Old Dominion Professor in the 2020-21 academic year.