Gilles Lipovetsky discusses the ‘consecration of authenticity’ at IE University

Gilles Lipovetsky, considered one of the most influential French intellectuals of the late 20th century, delivered a masterclass to undergraduate students at IE University and participated in the Festival de las Ideas, an event dedicated to philosophy and thought that brought intellectual discourse to the streets of Madrid, and featured other world-renowned philosophers such as Peter Sloterdijk, Michael Sandel, and Wendy Brown.

The French philosopher conversed with Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Humanities, discussing the theme of "unhappy happiness." Lipovetsky acknowledged the sacralization of authenticity, self-realization and individual autonomy, as contemporary forms of domination and new ideologies of consumption.

In his masterclass at IE University’s Segovia campus, titled ‘Being Yourself: The New Culture of Authenticity’, Lipovetsky explored the rise of authenticity as a social value and the commodification of the self. Students from the Bachelor in Humanities engaged with one of today’s most prominent thinkers on how modern individuals navigate the complex demands of self-expression, consumption, and technology in their quest to be themselves.

"The new individualism signifies a cultural revolution around the ideal of authenticity, as we are living in a phase where the slogan 'be yourself' has become institutionalized."
Gilles Lipovetsky

Lipovetsky’s lecture was one of the first activities of the term organized in Segovia by IE School of Humanities, the institution’s new school that promotes education and research aimed at developing leaders at the intersection of humanities, management, and technology.

About Gilles Lipovetsky

Internationally recognized for his influential work on contemporary culture, consumerism, and postmodernity, Lipovetsky is particularly known for his profound reflections on the dynamics of modern society. His work examines how hyperindividualism, fashion, and consumer behavior shape our everyday lives. His seminal books The Empire of Fashion, Hypermodern Times, and The Paradox of Happiness, explore the evolution of cultural and social norms in the context of globalization and technological progress. His theories on "hypermodernity" and the transition from postmodernism have shaped academic debates and influenced leading global thinkers.