Politics, Philosophy and Economics Personal Statement
I believe the three strands of Politics, Philosophy and Economics can combine to help to explain many of the events that take place in the world today, and it is my wish to increase my understanding of these events that has drawn me to this course. While my subject choices at A-Level are mostly scientific, I believe my interest in Mathematics and Physics comes from the same wish to fully understand the world we live in, constantly requiring the asking of questions to enable this, and also providing me with the analytical approach necessary to tackle any argument thoroughly. In the scientific subjects this process tends to result in the definite derivation of an answer, however reading and thinking about the points made in Thomas Nagel’s What does it all mean? allowed me to consider a question knowing that there can be no definitive answer, while still striving to fully examine each argument, and trying to find ways of validating or disproving any such argument, an opportunity I relished.
One area I am particularly keen to look into more is the development of Communist regimes around the world, such as in the USSR and China. Although the Communist party is in power today in the latter, internationally there is opposition to its apparent human rights abuses. However, it’s also one of the emerging BRIC economies, and it would be interesting to look into whether it’s economically Communist as well, in order to see if this success is down to Communism. John Stuart Mill said in his Principles of Political Economy that he thought Communism was just as valid a concept as Capitalism, but the success of either was dependent on their “futurity”, how they developed as time went on. Economically, the USSR often stagnated, so if China has abandoned or weakened the role of Communist economic principles it could be an aspect that needed to change in order to preserve political Communism. I would be interested in looking in depth into the original Marxist theory, to see if the alleged repression in countries such as China, Laos and Vietnam is due to interpretation of it, while also looking into how it has developed over time in its implementations across the world.
I am a regular reader of The Economist and The Times, and often try to find out more about current events in order to try and understand the background events leading up to any such developments. My natural interest in these events led me to take the Extended Project Qualification, where I looked at whether euthanasia ought to be made legal in Britain, due to the ongoing debate in the media. The work I did allowed me to study further the ethical arguments behind the issue, and decide on my own opinion. The project helped to develop my skills when it comes to research and self-motivation, and personally found it all the more rewarding because I was so interested in the problem of how to provide clear legislation on ethical matters, when so often each case affected has individual circumstances, that may change how moral any one example is seen to be.
Outside of lessons, I am keen helper in several voluntary schemes. I help with Year 6 Maths lessons at a local primary school, and each weekend I volunteer at a charity shop. I find this work gratifying, and would like to continue taking part in charity work at University. I also completed Grade 4 piano a few years ago, and now continue playing contemporary music. I am employed as a Lunchtime Supervisor in school.
Overall, it is during the last two years of school that my desire to take my long-standing interest in philosophy, politics and economics to a higher level became apparent. In History I have most enjoyed studying the evolution of the schools of thought of Liberalism, Socialism and Conservatism, and it is this that has increased my aspiration to look deeper into political and economic thought and its development internationally throughout the centuries.
Universities Applied to:
- Oxford (PPE) - Offer (AAA) Firm
- Lancaster (PPE) - Offer (AAB) Insurance
- Durham (PPE) - Offer (A*AA)
- Exeter (Philosophy and Political Economy) - Offer (AAA)
- Warwick (PPE) - Rejection
Grades Achieved:
- History (AS) - A
- Maths (AS) - A
- Further Maths (AS) - A
- Physics (AS) - B
