Akshath Jitendranath

I came to Purdue from Paris, where I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Philosophy and Economics at the Paris School of Economics.  Before that, I cut my intellectual teeth in The Netherlands—first with a Research Master in Philosophy and Economics from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, then with a PhD in PPE from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. And before all of this accidental—but happy—cosmopolitanism that has taken me to some fascinating parts of the world; I was born and raised in another fascinating part of the world. In India, where I also did an undergraduate degree in Economics. 

I work on questions at the intersection of economics and philosophy. My work has appeared in philosophy journals (Journal of Philosophy) economics journals (Journal of Mathematical Economics) as well as interdisciplinary journals (Theory and Decision). My paper in the Journal of Philosophy also won the Isaac Levi Prize. This pleased me more than I expected, and not just for whom the prize was named after.

My work and interests have nevertheless brought economists to the conclusion that I am a philosopher, and philosophers to the belief that I am an economist. Both assessments are fine. Quite flattering actually. But both miss the point. For the answer to many questions of interest—especially the questions that interest me—would be deeply unsatisfying if it did not meet the internal standards of excellence in both disciplines.