Capability approach as an evaluative framework various scholars have adopted sens ideas and developed them into the capability approach, an attempt to develop a broad normative framework for the evaluation of individual wellbeing. Sen s most important critique on rawlsian justice concerns the inflexibility of social primary goods as the metric of justice. This paper explores the contribution of the capability approach of amartya sen and other authors to policy making in the specific case of disability policy. Pdf on mar 31, 2018, shija kuhumba and others published amartya sens capability approach as theoretical foundation of human. The capability approach was first articulated by the indian economist and philosopher amartya sen in the 1980s, and remains most closely associated with him. In quality of life sen pointed out that he had not used the term basic capabilities in his dewey lectures, nor in commodities and capabilities, in order to avoid confining the capability approach only to the analysis of basic capabilities sen 1993 sen ak capability and well. Friends of the sep about the society pdf citation faq help. Pdf sens capability approach to welfare economics ingrid. This new insight has the potential to promote a music education that is inherently tailored to the individual.
What is the capability approach its core, rationale. Rawls has argued that this critique implies that the capability approach endorses a comprehensive moral doctrine. Sen and nussbaums ideas have influenced global, national and local policy, such as the annual human development reports of. He obtained a phd in economics from the london school of economics and worked at the bangladesh institute of development. Sens and nussbaums extensive writings on the capability approach may. Sen argues that, in analysing wellbeing, we should shift our. The capability approach and ethical debates about human rights the capability approach can be of help in addressing some of the important controversial and unresolved issues in ethical debates about human rights. It analyzes recent formulations by some of sen s close associates, in addition to his own work, and identifies important variants, obscurities and tensions, as well as the key rationale and valueadded of the approach. Capability approach to advantage and disadvantage oxford. Martha nussbaum 1988 has illuminatingly analyzed the reach and relevance of the aristotelian approach. Sen wrote about rights as central goals of public policy throughout the period during which he developed the approach. Thinking about the capability approach opens a space in which we can be critical of school processes within a normative framework with a sense of universality. It has been employed extensively in the context of human development, for example, by the united nations development programme, as a broader, deeper alternative to narrowly economic. How does the capability approach address current issues in.
The fourth section relates the capability approach to models of disability and the fifth section. Sens capability approach internet encyclopedia of philosophy. In this approach, amartya sen and martha nussbaum bring together a range of ideas that were previously excluded from or inadequately formulated in traditional approaches to. The capability approach has obvious relevance for social policy, though it was never intended to guide policy design.
For more on the capability approach see the web site of the human development and capability association. A key analytical distinction in the capability approach is that between. The reason for this is that sen s version of the capability approach is the broader and more general. In this text we will take sen s capability approach as our starting point, and discuss nussbaums work when it criticises, divers from, or adds to sen s work. Is school education always beneficial to an individuals overall capabilities in life. The university of texas at austin recommended for you. The first section describes two polarized models of disability that theorize the current practices of inclusive education, as well as alternate models based on a synthesis of the two. The capability approach is a broad normative framework for the evaluation of individual wellbeing and social arrangements, the design of policies and proposals about social change in society. On the one hand, participatory methods and tools can democratise the application of the capability approach and human development perspective more generally. Empowerment and development by loretta wills keleher dissertation submitted to the faculty of the graduate school of the university of maryland, college park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of. The literature on applications of the socalled capability approach of amartya sen and martha nussbaum is extensive, but it is only recently that some have argued that its application to the analysis of disability would be a great advantage over existing analyses, and in particular preferable to the model of functioning and disability found in the world health organizations.
In this text we will take sens capability approach as our starting point, and discuss. Enabling musical learning volume 29 issue 3 kate cameron. The third explains that disability can be understood as a capability or a functioning deprivation under sen s framework and presents the potential causes of disability under this approach. Human rights and capabilities amartya sen amartya sen is lamont university professor at harvard university, cambridge, ma, usa abstract the two concepts human rights and capabilities go well. The presence and importance of the capability approach in sen s work is thus undeniable, but should not be seen as the only defining feature. It proposes that social arrangements should be primarily evaluated according to the extent of freedom people have to promote or achieve functionings they value. Pdf capability approach pioneered by amartya sen has been a new milestone for analyzing poverty through gender perspective. Some refelctions 2016 human development report office 2 think piece s. The capability approach has been advanced in somewhat different directions by martha nussbaum, who has used the capability approach as the foundation for a partial theory of justice.
Both sen and i stated from the start that the capabilities approach needs to be combined with a focus on rights. The aim of this text is to present amartya sen s capability approach in the explanation that robeyns provides us in her paper entitled the capability approach. How does the capability approach relate to human development human development is conceptually founded on the capability approach, and looks to application. Concept, application, and scrutiny 6 aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book i, section 7. The capability approach the capability approach has been pioneered and developed by the economist and philosopher amartya sen and the philosopher martha. May 16, 2019 on the one hand, participatory methods and tools can democratise the application of the capability approach and human development perspective more generally. Sen s capability approach does not explicitly allow that formal education may not. The capability approach can help to identify the possibility that.
According to us, the literature has often missed to identify the linkages existing between sens entitlement approach used in the. The capability approach also referred to as the capabilities approach is an economic theory conceived in the 1980s as an alternative approach to welfare economics. Although engagement with the concept of capability features in the work of both amartya sen and martha nussbaum, there are some significant differences between their approaches. This article examines the underexplored relationship between amartya sens capability approach to human well. At the heart of nussbaums liberal theory of justice and human rights is her version of amartya sen s concept of substantial freedoms or capabilities. Reconciling the capability approach and the icf sciencedirect. Sen sentitlementapproach 249 assets,andthiscanbeaccommodatedintheentitlementapproachusinga relativelylongrunformulationtakingnoteoffutureentitlements. Vikas sharma, assistant professor, jaipur national university, jaipur.
Participatory the methods and the capability approach. Both sen and i connect the capabilities approach closely to the idea of human rights, and in martha nussbaum 2001a. Amartya sen has developed the socalled capability approach to meet the criticism that income alone may be insufficient as a measure of economic inequality. Two roles which education might play in relation to the development. Within moral and political philosophy, the capability approach has in recent.
In this approach, amartya sen and martha nussbaum bring together a range of ideas that were previously excluded from or inadequately formulated in traditional approaches to the economics of welfare. Justice as fairness and the capability approach oxford. Making sens capability approach operational a random scale framework abstract. Sens capability approach is a helpful intervention in the discourses of mainstream western welfare economics and moral philosophy. An introduction to amartya sens development as freedom a. Human dignity in the capability approach rutger claassen. It originated in amartya sens disquiet with orthodox welfare economics based on utility maximisation and his desire to focus on the potential to do things and choose ones own lifestyle sen 1982, 1985, 1993. The paper specifies the core elements of amartya sen s capability approach to socioeconomic valuation. The capability approach purports that freedom to achieve wellbeing is a matter of what people are able to do and to be, and thus the kind of life they are effectively able to lead. The comparison between the literature in participation and capability approach unfolds a series of similarities. The approach that will be used here, which is sometimes called the capability approach, sees human life as a set of. Hd used sen s phrase that the objective of development is to expand capabilities and simplified it to expand peoples choices.
Human dignity in the capability approach rutger claassen published in. The capability approach and human development ophi. This is a preprint version, identical to the final version except for corrections at the proofreading stage. Sugden cites nussbaums work as evidence in making his case. They seem to disagree, however, about how empowerment should be represented within the capability approach ca. Mar 10, 2018 most leaders dont even know the game theyre in simon sinek at live2lead 2016 duration. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether amartya sen s capability approach can suggest an appropriate theory of education for ethical development. Capability approach pioneered by amartya sen has been a new milestone for analyzing poverty through gender perspective. Admiral mcraven addresses the university of texas at austin class of 2014 duration. But, before moving to these, we begin by offering an overview of the key elements of human development. The second aim of the paper is to develop the capability approach primarily elaborated by the economist amartya sen during the early 1980s, in order to use it for the analysis of food security. Many advocates of sen s capability approach insist that his approach is superior to rival theories of education, including the human capital theory. The capability approach, empowerment and participation. Amartya sen has developed the socalled capability approach to meet the criticism that income alone may be insufficient.
In terms of this approach, a capability can be defined as the freedom to choose to do or be something, and a functioning can be defined as a measurable, objective capability that an individual has already achieved alkire, 2005. The capability approach focuses on what people are able to do and be, as opposed to what they have, or how they feel. In comparing sen s work with mills, sugden criticizes sen s capability approach because it may be applied in such a way that society or theorists judge what is best for people and potentially restrict liberty on that basis. Capabilities classified by types of activity they enable 5. An introduction to the capability approach master hdfs. Consequently, many themes are still open to debate. Amartya sens capability approach the capability approach also known as the capabilities approach is a theoretical and normative framework concerned with. Nussbaum, who has used the capability approach as the foundation for a partial theory of justice. Why the capability approach journal of human development. It proposes that social arrangements should be primarily evaluated according to the extent of freedom people. Critical social policy and the capability approach on jstor. The capability approach stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. This book explores the linkages between amartya sen s capability approach and participatory forms of development especially those associated with critical pedagogy and empowerment from the bottomup. Sen and the capability approach have offered valuable steps towards a complete concept of empowerment.
Under sen s approach, capability does not constitute the. It has been employed extensively in the context of human development, for example, by the united nations development programme, as a broader. Nussbaum the university of chicago1 forthcoming, feminist economics i. This paper suggests that incorporating amartya sens capability approach when assessing higher education provides a broader, multicriteria framework that answers the need for a normative ideal. The capabilities approach and social justice throughout his career, amartya sen has been preoccupied with. Reframing inclusive education through the capability. The capability approach understands wellbeing in terms of functionings. The capability approach and resourcebased approaches to poverty analysis. Sen describes the various components or aspects of a persons life as functionings. The capability approach ca is a broad normative framework that can be used to evaluate a variety of aspects of wellbeing, and guide policies that remove obstacles which prevent people from achieving a quality of life that they have reason to value sen 1993.
The capabilities approach and social justice throughout his career, amartya sen has been preoccupied with questions of social justice. During the past twentyfive years, the capability approach, developed by amartya sen and martha nussbaum, has come to play a major role in political philosophy and normative economics. While the origins of the capabilities approach go back to john stuart mill, adam smith, and in. The capability approach is generally conceived as a flexible and multipurpose framework, rather than a precise theory of wellbeing. This chapter reconsiders the differences between amartya sen s capability approach and john rawlss justice as fairness approach.
This is because sen emphasizes the purpose and various roles of education for achieving. Development in practice sens capability approach as a. This paper suggests that incorporating amartya sen s capability approach when assessing higher education provides a broader, multicriteria framework that answers the need for a normative ideal. I will take sen s capability approach as my starting point, and discuss nussbaums work when it criticizes, diverges from, or adds to sen s work.
Sixth, a capability theory of justice needs to specify where the line between individual and collective responsibility is drawn, or how it will be decided, and by whom, where this line will be drawn. Pdf amartya sens capability approach alik naha academia. It shows how the capability approach and the participatory movement can complement and. Osmani is professor of development economics at ulster university, uk. The second part seeks to clarify a number of interrelated issues concerning choice and freedom the two most fundamental concepts in the capability approach. The capability approach ca, developed by amartya sen, martha nussbaum and other social theorists is a broad, humancentred normative framework for the evaluation of individual and group wellbeing, quality of life and social justice. Jun 20, 2014 the capability approach ca, developed by amartya sen, martha nussbaum and other social theorists is a broad, humancentred normative framework for the evaluation of individual and group wellbeing, quality of life and social justice. The capability approach in social policy analysis 1 the capability approach ca is a set of ideas, concepts and methodological. Sen s 15, 16 capability approach provides a way to integrate physical changes of ageing, environmental influences and psychosocial effects by focusing on what older people themselves value in regards to healthy ageing.
Revising amartya sens capability approach to education for. For more on sen s ideas see the ethics of substantial freedom. The approach that will be used here, which is sometimes called the capability approach, sees human life as a set of doings and beingswe may call them functioningsand it relates the evaluation of the quality of life to the assessment of the capability to function. Indeed, it focuses on social justice as the metric for evaluating and shaping universities. This chapter outlines key features of sen s capability approach. Later sections will present his foundational work and its basic terms and concepts. Then i will explain its relevance for engineering and design before sketching some directions for future research on design for global justice.
Pdf amartya sens capability approach as theoretical foundation. Since the introduction of the approach, numerous scholars from various. Sugdens critique of the capability approach utilitas. The capability approach is used in a wide range of fields, most prominently in development thinking, welfare economics, social policy and political.
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