Conversations with History: Institute
of International Studies, UC Berkeley
This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations
with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the
public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.
Welcome to a Conversation with History. I'm Harry
Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today
is Martha C. Nussbaum, who is a philosopher, and the Ernst Freund Distinguished
Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. She is
on the Berkeley campus to deliver the 2006-2007 Forester Lectures. Professor
Nussbaum has made significant contributions to an array of disciplines,
working within the fields of philosophy, law, classics, and political science.
She has advanced the interdisciplinary study of ongoing problems in such
areas as cognition and emotions, feminism, democracy, religion, and education,
among others. Some of her publications include Upheavals of Thought:
The Intelligence of Emotions, Cultivating Humanity: A Classical Defense
of Reform of Liberal Education, The Fragility of Goodness: Luck and Ethics
in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy, and Women and Human Development:
The Capabilities Approach.
- Background ... growing up in Bryn Mawr ... influence of parents ... feminist
education ... professional actress ... studying classics and philosophy ...
G.E.L. Owen and Bernard Williams ... feminist trailblazing at Harvard
- Being a Philosopher ... Socrates
... feminism maturing into philosophy ... international social justice ...
choosing philosophical questions ... emotions and politics ... Amartya Sen
and the World Institute for Development Economics Research
- The Rights and Capabilities of Women ...
differences in feminist issues in different cultures ... issues in India
... thriving democracy ... obsolete economic measurements ... ten indicators
of life quality ... the capabilities approach ... empirical research
- The Role of Religion ... second-class
status of women ... legitimacy of religious claims ... religious claims
vs. ten indicators of human dignity ... the right of choice ... nonreligious
authoritarian groups ... reforming law withing a religious culture ... male
clerics ... diversity within tradition ... allowing the powerful to dominate
the reform debate ... contestation
- The Role of Law ... early U.S.
focus on rape and sexual harassment ... successful changes in law ... law
culture and norms in India ... Madisonian idea of equal liberty ... the case
of Abbington v. Schempp ... emphasizing "equality" over "separation"
- Conclusions ... advice for students
... liberal education ... reasoned debate ... world citizens ... imagination
... overemphasis on technological training ... critical thinking ... elevating
the public discourse ... corporate-run media


© Copyright 2006, Regents of the University of
California
Site questions: Email iis_webmgr at berkeley.edu.