The doctoral dissertation titled Moore's Ethics: Theory and Practice, completed at Monash University in 1978, established the academic trajectory for Bangladeshi philosopher Hasna Begum. Over a career spanning several decades, she transitioned from a student at the University of Dhaka to a primary authority on moral philosophy, eventually serving as a department chair and receiving the prestigious Rokeya Chair.
Academic Formation
Born in Dhaka on 24 February 1935, Begum navigated a changing political landscape throughout her life, living through periods defined by the British Raj, Pakistan, and ultimately Bangladesh. She earned her BA in 1968 and her MA in 1969 from the University of Dhaka. Her advanced studies took her to Australia, where she became the first doctoral advisee of Peter Singer at Monash University. This period of research resulted in the 1978 completion of her PhD in moral philosophy.
Teaching and Institutional Roles
Begum maintained a long-term professional association with the University of Dhaka, where she served as a professor. From 1991 to 1994, she occupied the position of chair of the Department of Philosophy. Her administrative and academic service extended beyond the university level; in 2010, she was appointed to the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh as the Rokeya Chair. Additionally, her international influence in bioethics was marked by her membership on the board of the International Association of Bioethics between 1997 and 2005, alongside editorial contributions to Bioethics and the Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics.
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As a writer and feminist scholar, Begum produced a substantial bibliography that included original treatises and translations of classic philosophical texts into Bangla. She published works such as Morality, Women and Society in 1990, Women in the Developing World: Thoughts and Ideals in 1990, and the memoir Amar Sonar Harin Chai in 2015. Her translation efforts included G. E. Moore's Principia Ethica and J. S. Mill's Utilitarianism, the latter of which saw multiple editions published in Dhaka and Kolkata. Her creative output also spanned poetry and novels, including the 2009 work Madhabeer Katha.
Final Years
Begum retired from her position at the University of Dhaka in December 2000, yet remained active in scholarly discourse. She died in a Dhaka hospital on 1 December 2020 at the age of 85, following a contraction of COVID-19. She was buried at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 February 1935, Dhaka
- Died: 1 December 2020, Dhaka
- Primary Discipline: Philosophy
- Doctoral Advisor: Peter Singer
- Notable Appointment: Rokeya Chair, 2010
- Language Fluency: English and Bangla
- Academic Base: University of Dhaka
- Burial Site: Martyred Intellectuals Memorial
Questions readers ask
Where did Hasna Begum earn her doctorate?
She earned her PhD in moral philosophy from Monash University in 1978.
What subjects did she teach and write about?
She focused on moral philosophy, ethics, feminist theory, and bioethics.
Was she involved in international ethics organizations?
Yes, she was a board member of the International Association of Bioethics from 1997 to 2005.
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