NYC Gazette

Columbia University faculty members pay tribute to the late Nobel Laureate and Princeton professor emeritus.

Last week, Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of Psychology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, passed away at the age of 90. His groundbreaking work in psychology, particularly in the field of behavioral economics, earned him the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.

Several members of the faculty at Columbia University have shared their reflections on Kahneman's influence and legacy. One faculty member expressed, "Daniel Kahneman—together with his friend, colleague, and collaborator Amos Tversky—created a new scientific discipline, one that would give us the tools to quantify those qualities of the human experience that seem unquantifiable: judgements, decisions, happiness, subjective feelings."

Another tribute highlighted Kahneman's impact on scientific thinking and the perception of what it means to be a scientist. The faculty member recalled, "He had an outsize impact on my scientific thinking and on my idea of what it means to be a scientist in the world."

Reflecting on Kahneman and Tversky's influential research on decision-making, one speaker recalled the paper "The Framing of Decisions and the Psychology of Choice," emphasizing how the work revealed the impact of framing on people's decisions.

A tribute to Kahneman's approach to science noted, "He brought both grace and playfulness to science. He also brought the beauty and elegance of science to societal issues."

Another faculty member highlighted the transformative impact of Kahneman and Tversky's work on economic choices, stating, "Their work has revolutionized how we approach and understand economic choices—Kahneman and Tversky did not change the discipline at the margin, they altered it radically."

As the Columbia University community mourns the loss of Daniel Kahneman, faculty members also celebrate his contributions and enduring legacy. One speaker emphasized the importance of embracing truthfulness in scientific endeavors as a tribute to Kahneman's commitment to evidence-based inquiry.

The profound influence of Kahneman's research continues to inspire current and future scholars, as expressed by a faculty member who shared, "His papers from all stages of his career continue to inspire my work."

Daniel Kahneman's contributions to the understanding of human behavior and decision-making will be remembered and cherished by the academic community, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of psychology and economics.