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The American philosopher Martha Nussbaum has been granted the Award for Social Sciences
for her contribution to the humanities, philosophy of law and political science. Her reflections
embrace numerous topics, addressing —through her well-known “capabilities approach”—
questions as diverse as gender, religion, international development, education and social justice
theory.
The common thread running through her thinking is that of human vulnerability. Nussbaum
examines how to foster positive feelings and emotions like friendship and love while attempting
to eradicate others like violence for ever. This is because she is convinced that it is possible for us
human beings to reach an agreement on a set of universal ethical principles despite our different
ways of understanding what constitutes goodness.
A brilliant Hellenist, admirer and student of the philosophy
of Socrates and Aristotle, Martha Nussbaum has also reflected
on the process of degeneration in education, on the “shrinking
of the soul”, as Rabindranath Tagore so suggestively phrased it.
She constantly warns us of the intellectual and ethical poverty
resulting from abandoning the study of the humanities and
extols us to continue working to avoid the evils inherent in this
dereliction.
On numerous occasions in this very forum we have heard
the call to attention by our Laureates on this issue, on the
urgency of ensuring the protection and development of humanistic studies as the best way to
distance ourselves from the ignorance, contempt and oblivion of our past. However, we continue
to perceive how we are losing —almost without realizing it— the immense wealth of wisdom
contained in these studies, and how —unfortunately— the borders of the authentic education of
human beings are becoming blurred. Let us recall, not without a certain shudder, the questions
voiced by T.S. Eliot:
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
Today we recognize the greatness and soundness of Martha Nussbaum’s thinking and work
and thank her for her tenacious defence of what ultimately makes us freer.
Shigeru Miyamoto, who has received the Award for Communication and Humanities, is one
of the most distinguished representatives of Japanese graphic art, which in recent decades has
conquered the world through cartoons, comics —the famous “
manga”
— and video games. This
last medium comprises Miyamoto’s field of work. Among other video games, he is the author of
two series —
The Legend of Zelda
and
Super Mario
— which millions of children, adolescents and
also adults worldwide have played and continue to play. He commented on receiving the news of
the Award that his dream is to continue providing fun and joy to people of all generations around
the world through his work.
But what is the secret of this truly global success? It seems that Miyamoto’s talent consists in
fusing Western and Eastern elements in his video games in a synthesis that is attractive to young
people of all cultures
.
His work also embraces the Japanese literary tradition of the figure of the
child-hero, like Link, the main character in
The Legend of Zelda
, with whom all the world’s children
can identify.
Equally commendable is the capacity of Miyamoto’s video games to stimulate positive
emotions and feelings in players, as well as the educational aspect of his creations, which always
shun violence. Through them, one learns to follow the rules of the game, achieve goals and respect
one’s opponent while at the same time developing creativity, initiative and intelligence. We hope
he continues creating with the same enthusiasm, contributing that vibrant quality brimming with
energy with which he manages to unite us all —as is his goal— in fun and joy.
“We know that pessimism, resignation
or despair do not bring us closer to the
solution, and I know it is not easy for
many to keep their spirits high.”
26
th
O
ctober
2012
