Nobel prize winner talks at PEP conference
Nobel prize-winning economist Amartya Sen was the focus of a conference hosted by the PEP club on the theme of ‘Identity, Community and Justice’ at the King’s Manor on May 23 and 24. Sen’s ideas on the subject were brought forward as a starting point for discussion, with leading academics invited to speak. In addition to Professor Sen, the list included Professors Akeel Bilgrami, Kaushik Basu, David Miller and Lord Bhikhu Parekh.
The University of York’s Professor Haleh Afshar (Politics) and Professor Tom Baldwin (Philosophy), currently working on areas related to ‘Identity, Community and Justice’, also spoke.
In light of recent debate at the University with regards to multiculturalism, the conference could be described as highly timely.
After the two-day conference, Sen took part in an exclusive question-and-answer session on Thursday evening, where the theme of ‘Identity’ seemed to be at the core from the very start. Given the speaker’s Indian heritage and extensive knowledge of Eastern philosophy, he refuted American and Eurocentric approaches to politics, economics and philosophy, dismissing the idea that developing nations are backward.
Later, talking exclusively to Nouse, Sen declared global and national identity, rather than sectarian identity, to be crucial in eliminating tensions, with particular reference to conflict in the East. He emphasised the importance of political participation in the augmentation of democracy within a state, dismissing the idea that it can have a negative economic effect.“I’ve never understood how political participation can be inimical to economic growth”, he said.
Commended for his work on famine, human development theory, welfare economics, the underlying mechanisms of poverty and political liberalism, Sen expressed his ideas in an inspiring manner.
Henry Smith, President of the PEP Club, said, “I thought the night was a great success. It was a testament to Sen’s intellect that he was able to answer the range of questions in such depth without any warning as to their content”.
Smith confirmed the opinion of many students present at the conference, saying Sen was “thought-provoking” in his bringing together of the interdisciplinary nature of the subjects.
