How do we lead and govern when no one agrees on the best way to live?

In a world fueled by absolute truths and grand ideologies, we often forget that the most dangerous weapon in politics is a claim to perfect knowledge.

As Lincoln Rathnam argues in his provocative new book​, leadership and government are in fact improved by acknowledging the limits of our knowledge. He does so through a comparative analysis of French philosopher Michel de Montaigne and the ancient Daoist thinker Zhuangzi.

Both lived in a time of intense violence and conflict. Each drew the conclusion that conflict is exacerbated by excessive confidence in the rightness of one's ideas. The solution is the practice of skepticism, which can lead to more modest, effective, and peaceful governance.

If you're interested in political theory, leadership, conflict resolution, or the history of ideas, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Join RAS Shanghai council chair James Miller for an exciting live conversation with author Lincoln Rathnam.