Reason Before Identity

by Amartya Sen

In November of 1998 Amartya Sen, winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Economics, delivered the 1998 Romanes Lecture before the University of Oxford. The subject was social identity and its role and implications.

Genres: Economics

31 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Amartya Kumar Sen is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society’s poorest members.

Sen was best known for his work on the causes of famine, which led to the development of practical solutions for preventing or limiting the effects of real or perceived shortages of food. He is currently the Thomas W. Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University. He is also a senior fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he previously served as Master from the years 1998 to 2004. He is the first Asian and the first Indian academic to head an Oxbridge college.

Amartya Sen's books have been translated into more than thirty languages. He is a trustee of Economists for Peace and Security. In 2006, Time magazine listed him under "60 years of Asian Heroes" and in 2010 included him in their "100 most influential persons in the world".

Reviews

[Vincent Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should make clear that the rating is not for the content, which I find excellent, but the fact that the ideas explored in this book are repeated/expanded upon in his later book, "Identity and Violence." This book is hard to find, and is really a short speech that the author made that sets out the core ideas he explores in "Identity and Violence."

The central thesis is that identity matters to people, and may motivate people's conduct. Sen argues that 1) Adam Smith never argued that self-interest is the only motivating factor for conduct, and 2) even if he did that's not true. Identity shapes how we see the world and may itself compel us. The author argues against communitarian beliefs that our associative obligations, to family, community, and nation should be the basis of justice. That is so, Sen argues, because justice is a minimal condition for society to survive. Family and friends are important parts of the good life, but they supplement not replace justice. Additionally, we must often deal with people with whom we are not related to, or have affection for, which still requires principles of justice.

There's two main ideas, that again are explored in Identity and Violence, that I find really original. The first is that we each have multiple identities (many not linked to nations at all) that many come into conflict with each other. Take for example, the doctor's oath, which has no national boundaries that any conflict with a field medic's identity as the patriot of a particular country for example. The second idea is that identity is not something that is discovered, but something that is chosen (this ties into the first, we must make choices about priorities). It is true that we don't have unlimited choice in what we identify as, since identity will be constrained by what others will recognize, but that simply means that we face a choice constraint. We may discover things about ourselves, that may expand that choice constraint, but there's a choice to be made nevertheless. Sen argues that the idea that identities are immutable, or intrinsic to people, have fueled ethnic conflicts and entrenched power disparities in "traditional" cultures (for example, caste or female discriminating norms). Per the title, we must recognize that choice comes before identity and we should use our reason in making that choice.

Lastly, Sen critiques the idea that this concept of identity, is unique to "western" culture. For one, he argues that all people have the ability to reason, and indeed in light of our many identities, professional, cultural, national etc. we almost always do. Even if people may not have the opportunities (through education or experience) to realize that they have choices, this does not show that people are unable to. And the idea of reasoning, choice, are not unique to the "west" however it is defined, many ideas associated with the liberal society have roots and analogues in other cultures. Even if a culture had iliberal principles, culture never determines how people think, as much as it influences their thinking, within any culture there are dissents and complexities (we tend to recognize those complexities in our own culture but are quick to generalize about other cultures as homogenous).

Overall, I find the ideas compelling and original. Like I said however, this book is really hard to find (amazon prices the book at 900 dollars!, needless to say, I did not buy a physical copy of the book), and most of the ideas are explored and supplemented in "Identity and Violence." An interesting way to think about identity and one that I wish was more well known.

[Eswar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sen clearly stipulates that each of us have several identities, that may result in conflicting loyalties, yet are intrinsic drivers of our rationality. While others may perceive us based on looks, passport, or religious identity only, acknowledging the multiple identities of oneself and others enhances the diversity of our own viewpoint. National laws do injustice in fairness - Sen contends that having international laws that “dovetail” with national laws can enhance fairness of justice for all. We must also believe that everyone has the capability to enhance their own rationality.

Simply put, don’t judge and be fair to all. Accept that everyone has a kaleidoscopic identity.

[Leonardo]

Citado en el artículo de Pugno en Capabilities and Happiness.