Nobel laureate and economist Amartya Sen on "Identity and Violence" -- on ThoughtCast!

Length 28:30
Licensor Jenny Attiyeh
Producer(s) Jenny Attiyeh
Formats Debut (not aired nationally), Interview, Special
Topics International, Politics, Public Affairs
Produced November, 2006
Added to PRX November 19, 2006
 

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Summary:

Amartya Sen, the distinguished economist, philosopher, Nobel laureate and Harvard professor, talks with ThoughtCast about "Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny."

Website:

http://www.thoughtcast.org

Additional Credits and Funding:

Susan Wennemyr, associate producer

Tones:

Engaging, Inspiring, Thoughtful

Language:

English

Description:

 Amartya Sen, the distinguished economist, philosopher, Nobel laureate and Harvard professor, talks with ThoughtCast about "Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny."
This new book examines the unfortunate connection between violence and our tendency to identify with one key trait -- our ethnicity, or religion, for example -- to the exclusion of all others. Sen argues that we can combat this tendency by rejecting this narrowly defined, limited sense of identity, and embracing a broader, richer and more complex understanding of ourselves.
Amartya Sen was born in West Bengal, India (now Bangladesh) and teaches economics at Harvard University. He is known in the wider world for his work on the causes of famines.