Is Amartya Sen 21st Century’s ‘Great Critic’ of Capitalism?

A response to Tim Rogan

Tim Rogan, in an essay recently published by Aeon, claims that Amartya Sen is the “Century’s Great Critic of Capitalism.” He states that Sen deserves this attribute because of his groundbreaking approach to capitalist critique, wherein he combines the moral and material critiques of capitalism that have hitherto remained two distinct ...
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Is Amartya Sen 21st Century’s ‘Great Critic’ of Capitalism?

OBJECT AMERICA: The Model 500 Telephone

An interdisciplinary reimagining of America

Telephones are emblems of power for President Trump, key devices for running his hyper-mediated reality TV show presidency. “I have great phones, I have phones -- let me tell you. The technology that we have in this country is incredible,” Trump boasted to Sean Hannity soon after taking office. From ...
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OBJECT AMERICA: The Model 500 Telephone

Courage Before the Break

Agnes Heller’s Theory of “Radical Needs” Revisited

“Good persons exist, how are they possible?” With this question, inimitable Hungarian philosopher Agnes Heller outlines her philosophical territory. As readers of critical theory, it is hard to know how to begin expressing our admiration for the energetic grande dame of our tradition. One anecdote might suffice: Heller’s mentor, the great, but ...
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Courage Before the Break

The Curious Case of the Growing Placebo Effect

Evidence suggests that placebo effects are becoming more powerful

Over the last several years evidence has been accumulating that placebo effects are becoming more powerful. Clinical trials on a range of medications used for treating both psychological and medical problems, are finding that differences in the magnitude of their impact relative to placebos are decreasing in size. For example, in ...
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The Curious Case of the Growing Placebo Effect