OPHIOxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative
Oxford Department of International Development
Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford
The Pursuit of Justice: Oxford Events with Professor Amartya Sen, 19-20 November 
OPHI organised several events with Amartya Sen, Harvard University Professor and Advisor to OPHI, in Oxford on 19-20 November. Sen spoke at a Roundtable on Economics with politicians, academics and policy makers, and delivered a lecture on The Pursuit of Justice which was chaired by the Chancellor of the University on 19 November. You can read more about both events and watch the podcasts online via the links below. These events were followed by a Philosophy Seminar with Sen and several distinguished speakers on 20 November.
Listen to the audio Podcast of the Roundtable ~ Economics and The Idea of Justice (it may take a minute to load).
Watch the
video Podcast of the Roundtable ~ Economics and The Idea of Justice.
Listen to or watch the Podcast of Professor Sen's Lecture: The Pursuit of Justice.
Read the news story on the University of Oxford's website 'Unite against injustice', says Amartya Sen.
*~*~*
Roundtable ~ Economics and The Idea of Justice
Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative, Oxford Department of International Development
Thursday 19 November, Examination Schools, University of Oxford
A panel of policy makers, academics and senior MPs James Purnell and Peter Lilley took advantage of Professor Amartya Sen’s visit to the University of Oxford to discuss with the Nobel prize winner how economics should change in light of his new book The Idea of Justice.
The roundtable event, which took place on 19 November 2009, was organised by OPHI attended by nearly 400 people. Speakers presented in three sessions (see full programme below) and questions were sought from the floor. The panels were chaired by Ngaire Woods (Director, Global Economic Governance Programme) and Frances Cairncross (Rector of Exeter College).
Amartya Sen urged politicians and citizens to unite against the injustices they can all agree upon, rather than obsessing about the ways in which their ultimate ideals of justice may differ.
MP James Purnell felt that the capability approach outlined by Sen is a very good starting point for this new ideological framework and went onto outline the role of the state in maximising capabilities: ‘Governments should empower people and protect them. That is their core mission. At a time of fiscal tightening, everything else is a lower priority. That is where the cuts should fall. But that’s not the end of the story. To have capable individuals, we need a capable society. As Amartya Sen argues in The Theory of Justice, there is nothing inherently atomistic about liberalism.’
MP Peter Lilley largely endorsed this approach but warned against ideological distortions of Sen’s message: ‘Development economics is the last remaining playground on which ideologues of both the left and right can play.’ He was concerned that these might distract from the key role of the West, from ‘doing the one thing we can do – offering the poorest people opportunities to trade out of poverty’.
Dr Sabina Alkire, who leads OPHI called for a new economic framework: ‘Economics is poised to change – within the decade it will be different. Economists working in public economics and policy have a moment of opportunity to draw into our analysis behavioural economics and game theory, institutional economics, theories of justice and political economy.’ She ended by saying that economists should consider coordinating research, like scientists work together on gene mapping, to put Sen’s proposals into practise.
Professor Sen went on to deliver a distinguished public lecture entitled ‘The Pursuit of Justice’ at the invitation of the Faculty of Philosophy to an overflowing Sheldonian Theatre, where the Chancellor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes presided.
Listen to the podcast (please be aware that this large file may take a minute to load).
Roundtable Programme
1. Economics: Poised to Change? 1.30 – 2.20pm
Chair: Prof Ngaire Woods, Director, Global Economic Governance Programme, University College
Dr Sabina Alkire, Director, Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI, ODID)
Prof Avner Offer, Chichele Professor of Economic History
Revd Angus Ritchie, London Citizens and Director, Contextual Theology Centre
Prof Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor, Harvard
Discussion
2. Weaknesses of the Current System 2.20– 3.10pm
Chair: Prof Ngaire Woods,
Prof John Broome, White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy
Prof Stefan Dercon, Professor of Development Economics (ODID)
James Purnell, MP and Director, Open Left (Demos)
Prof Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor, Harvard
Discussion
3. The Political Economy of Change 3.30-4.30pm
Chair: Frances Cairncross, Rector, Exeter College
Dr Alison Evans, Director, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
Peter Lilley, MP and Co-Chair, Trade Out Of Poverty Campaign
Prof Marcel Fafchamps, Professor of Development Economics (Economics) Read Prof Fafchamp's presentation
Prof Amartya Sen, Lamont University Professor, Harvard
Discussion
Photo Gallery
Distinguished Public Lecture
Professor Amartya Sen delivered a Distinguished Public Lecture entitled 'The Pursuit of Justice' on Thursday 19 November at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. The lecture was chaired by Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of the University. View the poster.
Sen began with a reflection on the late G.A. Cohen's tremendous contributions to the topic, and then presented the lecture. Speaking about the subject of his book The Idea of Justice, Professor Sen explored the philosophical and historical concepts of justice, and in applying it to today's global context challenged that 'there are things to do'. He identified philosophical voices that should count in considering a theory of Justice, and chose to focus on a comprehensive concept of realized justice, rather than on assessing justice according to whether institutions were just. The focal question for this approach to justice is, 'What is remediable injustice?' The emphasis throughout was on reasonable descriptions of, and feasible responses to, situations of injustice in this world. The lecture was followed by questions and animated discussion.
Hilary Putnam has said: 'I believe that Amartya Sen’s The Idea of Justice is the most important contribution to the subject since John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice appeared in 1971.'
Listen to or watch the Podcast of Professor Sen's Lecture: The Pursuit of Justice.
Philosophy Seminar with Amartya Sen
20 November, North School, Examination Schools, University of Oxford
Sen engaged in this seminar with philosophers that included further discussions of the lecture, and three papers focused on human rights, responsibility, and economic justice. The discussion was chaired by John Gardner, Professor of Jurisprudence and a Fellow of University College, Oxford. Stephen Mulhall, Stuart White, Lea Ypi, and Terry O’Shaughnessy initiated discussions, John Tasioulas presented 'Sen on the nature of justice and the grounds of human rights' and Alex Voorhoeve presented ‘Substantive Responsibility and the Capability View.’
The Idea of Justice
Amartya Sen
Reviews
John Gray – Literary Review – Is a Smarter World a Better World? – Aug 2009
Jonathon Sumption – The Spectator - The Human Element – 29 Jul 2009
Sunil Khilnani – Financial Times - Book review: The Idea of Justice – 25 Jul 2009
Richard Reeves – Times Online - The Idea of Justice by Amartya Sen – 26 Jul 2009
The Economist – Amartya Sen on Justice: How to do it better – 6 Aug 2009
Pratap Mehta – Outlookindia - ‘Doing’ Justice – 7 Aug 2009
Santosh Singh – The Herald of India – Practical Justice – 18 Aug 2009
Ziauddin Sardar – The Independent – Book of the Week – 21 Aug 2009
Interviews
Andy Mukherjee – The Economic Times – Fuelled by injustice – 10 Aug 2009
Rashmee Roshan Lall – The Times of India – Amartya Sen's story of justice – 26 Jul 2009
David Aaronovitch – Times Online – Nobel prize winner Amartya Sen: why happiness is not just pleasure – 4 Jul 2009
Blogs
Asianwindow.com – There is no such thing as perfect justice
Livemint.com – The rational sythesis
Law and other things – Amartya Sen's 'The Idea of Justice'
Buy the book
Blackwells Bookstore
Penguin
Waterstones Bookstore
Borders Bookstore
Amazon
All events were organised by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative,
Oxford Dept of International Development, Queen Elizabeth House, in conjunction with the University Events Office.