The Orwell Lecture 2025: Steven Pinker

In a piece of original research conducted specifically for this event, experimental psychologist Pinker considers the ‘prophecies’ made by George Orwell in his influential book Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The bestselling author and Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University uses Nineteen Eighty-Four as a lens to look through time – from the year in which it was written, through the year in which it was set to the present day – analysing shifts in language, democracy, prosperity and security across the globe.

Pinker is known for his research on language, cognition and human nature, writing for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic. His latest book, Everyone Knows that Everyone Knows, explores the theory of ‘common knowledge’ and ‘the science of harmony, hypocrisy and outrage’.

Set up to shine a light on brave writing, the Orwell Lecture has been given annually since 1989 in memory of the author, essayist and journalist George Orwell. The lecture has attracted notable speakers over the years, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Ian McEwan, Dame Hilary Mantel and Dr Rowan Williams.

The Orwell Foundation is a charity which shares George Orwell’s vision of a decent society where thought is free, truth is valued and brave writing is celebrated. Here, its annual lecture returns to the Southbank Centre for a second year.