Lever Time Are We Trapped In Meaningless Jobs? (With Rutger Bregman)
Dec 18, 2025
Rutger Bregman, a historian and author known for his views on inequality, discusses the concept of moral ambition, urging us to realign career choices with meaningful impact. He critiques elite institutions that prioritize profit over societal good, claiming many talented individuals are trapped in unfulfilling careers. Bregman emphasizes the need for direct action, moving beyond mere awareness, and addresses barriers in pursuing meaningful work. His insights challenge us to rethink talent’s role in solving global issues.
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Moral Ambition Defined
- Moral ambition blends activist idealism with entrepreneurial drive to actually get things done.
- Rutger Bregman defines it as the desire to make the world wildly better, not just raise awareness.
Davos Confrontation Went Viral
- In 2019 Rutger Bregman confronted billionaires at Davos about tax avoidance and went viral.
- He also clashed with Tucker Carlson when challenging media complicity with elites.
Elite Talent Flowing To Hollow Jobs
- Elite career paths often funnel talent into consultancy, corporate law, and finance with little social value.
- Bregman argues these roles can be socially meaningless or actively destructive.