Philosopher and author Alain de Botton will give the second Ogilvy&Inspire lecture at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity 2012 on Thursday June 21st, 2012. 

 Launched last year on the centenary of David Ogilvy's birth, the annual lecture invites contemporary visionaries to examine inspiration and creativity. De Botton's speech will unpick the idea of creativity and discuss why it is one of the most elusive and essential aspects of our lives. The Swiss-born philosopher is a prolific writer and distinguished thinker who has published books and papers on every aspect of the human condition including sex, work, religion, status, love and art, with bestsellers in 30 countries. He founded, and helps run, the School of Life in London, an institution dedicated to a new vision of education. 

De Botton, whose work is built on a 'philosophy of everyday life', will seek to pinpoint the source of our creative fire by sharing the deeper truths he has discovered through close examination of a host of subjects.  "It is in books, poems, and painting that we find the confidence to take seriously the feelings in ourselves that we might otherwise never have thought to acknowledge." 

Miles Young, Worldwide CEO, Ogilvy & Mather, said: "Now in their second year, our seminars continue the legacy of inspiration fostered by David Ogilvy. Alain de Botton reflects this legacy as one of the world's most inspirational, unique thinkers. Like all great originals, he divides opinion, provokes debate and illuminates what it is to be human. We are thrilled to have him guest at our second Ogilvy & Inspire seminar."

Last year's inaugural speaker was Sir Ken Robinson, author, education reformer and internationally-acclaimed speaker on education, creativity and innovation. His challenging lecture was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

 The second Ogilvy & Inspire lecture, on Thursday, June 21st at 10:30 AM in the Theatre Debussy, will form the centerpiece of a range of activities by the agency to celebrate this year's Cannes Lions. The lecture will be followed by The Speakers' Corner - a Q&A session at 11:30 AM with Alain de Botton in the Cannes Lions Press Centre: Palais de Festivals.