Economists are simplistic materialists and philosophers are hopelessly intellectualized. At least as stereotypes. However, can the two perspectives merge? “It is fully possible,“ according to the philosopher David Alm, program manager for the new Bachelor’s program in practical philosophy, politics and economy.
Photo: Jonas Jacobsson
How come you introduce a new Bachelor’s program in practical philosophy, politics and economy?
“There is a need of people who can make a holistic approach about complex questions including where value questions are included in the analysis. For instance, the program gives not only knowledge about the political process mainly studied in political science, but also about questions related to different moral-philosophy like justice, equality and freedom. Lund University will together with Stockholm University be the first universities in Sweden to offer the PPE-program.”
In connection with the finance crisis, rulers within banking were criticized for the lack of moral barriers. Would the program be seen as a reaction of that debate?
“It would be to exaggerate to say that the program is a sign of the times. You can of course hope the educational program will increase the moral percentage with some people who work within banking, but I don’t think the expectations should be too big.”
To whom is the program aimed?
“The program is not firstly intended for students who want to work as technical advisors. Instead it is a broad educational program aimed at persons interested in political questions and where a future job would demand the person to argue for different standpoints. The student must have an interest and understanding of the programs all three subjects.”
How do future workplaces look like for a student who has studied the PPE-program?
“Many of our students will certainly work in politics. Either as politicians, lobbyists within media or as a political expert. There is some kind of segregation on the Swedish labor market, where a certain type of education offers a certain type of jobs. All employers are not that benevolent to persons with a humanistic education. Our expectation is to break the structures and to some extent open up for humanists in more professional categories.”
Will there be any conflict among the different subjects?
“This type of cooperation over the faculty borders exists already among other parts of the university. But there are of course different traditions and different ways to teach which makes it an uncertainty element. However, the program is firstly not a concoction, but every subject is going to bring knowledge to the students. It is primarily during the fourth semester the different subjects are tied together by political and economic questions, and discussed from a social and moral-philosophic standpoint.”
Both Great Britain’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the media mogul, Rupbert Murdoch, have studied the PPE-program at Oxford. Is Lund trying to imitate foreign universities?
“The program at Oxford is an example to many universities, and the Lund version will have some similarities. The program in Oxford is definitely a high-profile program and it has, of course, formed many famous persons. But at the same time, the purpose is not to produce successful politicians, even if we naturally not are against having a Prime Minister as an alumnus.”
Text: Erling Borén
Translation: Lars Jansson
