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Capabilitarianism

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  • Ingrid Robeyns

Abstract

This paper offers a critique of Martha Nussbaum's description of the capability approach, and offers an alternative. I will argue that Nussbaum's characterization of the capability approach is flawed, in two ways. First, she unduly limits the capability to two strands of work, thereby ignoring important other capabilitarian scholarship. Second, she argues that there are five essential elements that all capability theories meet; yet upon closer analysis three of them are not really essential to the capability approach. I also offer an alternative description of the capability approach, which is called the cartwheel view of the capability approach. This view is at the same time radically multidisciplinary yet also contains a foundationally robust core among its various usages, and is therefore much better able to make the case that the capability approach can be developed in a very wide range of more specific normative theories. Finally, the carthwheel view is used to argue against Nussbaum's claim that all capabiliarian political theory needs to be politically liberal.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingrid Robeyns, 2016. "Capabilitarianism," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 397-414, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jhudca:v:17:y:2016:i:3:p:397-414
    DOI: 10.1080/19452829.2016.1145631
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ingrid Robeyns, 2005. "The Capability Approach: a theoretical survey," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 93-117.
    2. Pettit, Philip, 2001. "Symposium on Amartya Sen's philosophy: 1 Capability and freedom: a defence of Sen," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Marc Fleurbaey, 2006. "Capabilities, Functionings and Refined Functionings," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 299-310.
    4. Jonathan Wolff & Avner de-Shalit, 2013. "On Fertile Functionings: A Response to Martha Nussbaum," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 161-165, February.
    5. A. B. Atkinson, 2009. "Economics as a Moral Science," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 76(s1), pages 791-804, October.
    6. Severine Deneulin, 2002. "Perfectionism, Paternalism and Liberalism in Sen and Nussbaum's Capability Approach," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 497-518.
    7. Elaine Unterhalter, 2013. "Educating Capabilities," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(1), pages 185-188, February.
    8. Gasper, Des, 2007. "What is the capability approach?: Its core, rationale, partners and dangers," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 335-359, June.
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