Amartya Sen
Freedom, in the eyes of Amartya Sen, the famous1
Indian economist and philosopher, does not consist merely of
being left to our own devices. It also requires that people have
the necessary resources to lead lives that they themselves4
consider to be good ones. The focus on the individual has led
some critics to accuse Sen of “methodological individualism”
— not a compliment. Communitarian opponents, in particular,7
think that he pays insufficient regard to the broader social
group. In response, he — usually an unfailingly courteous
writer — becomes a bit cross, pointing out that “people who10
think, choose and act” are simply “a manifest reality in the
world”. Of course communities influence people, “but
ultimately it is individual valuation on which we have to draw,13
while recognising the profound interdependence of the
valuations of people who interact with each other”.
Nor is Sen easily caricatured as an egalitarian:16
“capabilities”, for example, do not have to be entirely equal.
He is a pluralist, and recognises that even capabilities cannot
always trump other values. Liberty has priority, Sen insists,19
but not in an absurdly purist fashion that would dictate
“treating the slightest gain of liberty — no matter how small
— as enough reason to make huge sacrifices in other22
amenities of a good life — no matter how large”.
Throughout, Sen remains true to his Indian roots. One
of the joys of his recently published book entitled The Idea25
of Justice is the rich use of Indian classical thought — the
debate between 3rd-century emperor Ashoka, a liberal
optimist, and Kautilya, a downbeat institutionalist, is much28
more enlightening than, say, a tired contrast between Hobbes
and Hume.
Despite these diverting stories, the volume cannot be31
said to fall into the category of a “beach read”: subtitles such
as “The Plurality of Non-Rejectability” provide plenty of
warning. But for those who like their summer dinner tables to34
be filled with intelligent, dissenting discourse, the book is
worth the weight. There is plenty here to argue with. Sen
wouldn’t have it any other way.37
Internet: <http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk> (adapted).