Personal Statement:Philosophy and economics 2

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

The planned privatisation of the Queen's head on a square of sticky paper provides an excellent validation for the study of philosophy and economics. Philosophically the Royal Mail is a British icon, with a brand promise informed by the historical association with the monarchy. Meanwhile national political philosophy, with the re-emergence of neo-Thatcherite privatisation, meshes with wider global macro-economics. This news story makes it apparent that the study of philosophy and economics is a necessity in order to provide rigour and structural clarity, and it is this that compels me to study these subjects at university.

During childhood I conformed to conventional religious norms, any questions met with disapproving glares from the religious elders "in the know". However, as I improved my logical thinking skills through maths, I began to rebel, and to question "what must never be questioned": the existence of a higher power. I watched the news avidly, and seeing the evils prevalent throughout the world brought with it a paradox: how can evil coexist with a merciful God? It was questions like these which attracted me to philosophy, and I decided to take a Stanford University "Coursera" logic module. This helped me to expand my reasoning ability, enabling me to form my previously muddled questions into coherent thought patterns, and logical argument has since become an invaluable ally.

I was fascinated when I learned about the territorial dispute in the Western Sahara between the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front, and I was determined to understand the differences in political philosophies. Reading Wolff's "An Introduction to Political Philosophy", taught me that these differences could be very normative, especially in this case when considering the anarchist's plea for autonomy, and the authoritarian's claims for absolute power. However, during my work experience at the Moroccan consulate in London, I realised it was far more Machiavellian in nature, as the philosophy of the Moroccan government on this issue was based on strategic power plays rather than compromise. Through university, I hope to begin to understand not just the what, but the why of such issues.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

Attempting to understand the economic and ethical dilemmas surrounding monetarism was something I found fascinating, especially theories on how reintroducing the gold standard may alleviate some of the current global economic problems by preventing inflation. Reading Friedman's "A Monetary History of the U.S" challenged my preconceptions, showing me the long term flaws in this theory, as exponential population growth will outstrip the supply of gold. The obvious ethical problems posed for government, with the attractions of delivering short term political momentum more than offset by the economic disaster in the long run, left me wondering: what should a government do? What philosophies would drive these decisions? I am hopeful that these questions can begin to be answered through a rigorous university degree.

My academic study has taught me that economics teaches sound and empirical approaches, while philosophy promotes the analytical skills that are vital in understanding political systems, and it is this rigour that drives me to pursue a degree in these subjects.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

During the beginning of my gap year, I travelled to the Atlas Mountains to learn more about the Berber community, and their culture and philosophy, in which I demonstrated a high level of persistence and inquisition. A week long placement at J.P. Morgan exposed me to professional economic analysis, giving me a greater knowledge of the applications of complex maths, which I am now extending by taking Further Maths A-Level.

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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