Philosopher Renato Janine appointed Education Minister

The new Minister of Education, philosopher Renato Janine Ribeiro, takes office on April 6. He will replace Cid Gomes who resigned last week following a heated debate in a session at the Chamber of Deputies. On that occasion, Gomes called the congressmen “extortioners” and “opportunists”. Janine's appointment was announced by President Dilma Rousseff on Friday (Mar. 27).

The new Education Minister is a professor of Ethics and Political philosophy at the University of São Paulo (USP) and specialized in the works of the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, the subject of his master's and doctoral research.  He holds master's degree from the Université Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, a doctor's degree from USP, and a post-doctoral degree from the British Library.

Ribeiro is the author of essays on political philosophy focusing on Brazil's reality. He won a Jabuti Award in 2001, one of the top literary prizes in Brazil, with his book, Sociedade Contra o Social: O Alto Custo da Vida Pública no Brasil (“Society vs Social: The High Cost of Public Life in Brazil”). The philosopher has also published other works on democracy, the relations between university and society, and politics. Overall, Ribeiro has published 18 books, as well as essays and scientific papers.

Translated by Mayra Borges

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