What is the Capability Approach to development?

Oxford Conversations

23 Jan 201702:07

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's observation that debates about equality often focus on what metric to measure—resources, liberty, or something else. Sen proposed evaluating equality in terms of 'capabilities,' which refers to people's real freedoms to pursue activities and states of life they truly value. His ideas broaden economic thinking to emphasize individuals' freedom to act as agents rather than being limited to fulfilling basic needs. The concept, rooted in both philosophy and economics, inspired the speaker’s doctoral work and continues to influence their thinking.

Takeaways

📊 Nobel laureate Amartya Sen emphasized the idea that when we discuss equality, the focus is often on *which* space we measure it in.
🧮 Disagreements about equality stem from differences in opinion regarding the space of measurement, such as resources, liberty, or other factors.
📚 In 1979, Sen proposed a shift towards assessing equality in the space of *capabilities* rather than just resources or liberty.
🎯 Capabilities refer to people's real, practical freedom to pursue and achieve activities and states of life that they value.
🌍 This concept of freedom goes beyond paper freedom; it's about the actual ability to pursue valuable and meaningful life goals.
🤔 Sen's ideas reshaped thinking in both philosophy and economics by focusing on people's activities, states of being, and real freedom.
📉 Economic thinking shifted from merely analyzing preferences or utility to understanding people's capabilities and freedom.
🚪 Respecting people's freedom allows them to act as agents, creating and shaping their lives without being constrained.
🏗 The focus is on allowing people to continually build and create, rather than just satisfying basic needs like in a prison.
📖 Sen’s ideas on capabilities were personally inspiring for the speaker, forming the basis of their doctoral work and ongoing research.

Q & A

Who is Amartya Sen and what is his contribution to the concept of equality?
-Amartya Sen is a Nobel laureate who, in 1979, observed that when discussing equality, people often focus on different spaces for measurement, such as resources or liberty. His key contribution was proposing that equality should be assessed in the space of capabilities, focusing on individuals' real freedom to pursue activities and states of life they value.
What is meant by the 'space of capabilities' as proposed by Amartya Sen?
-The 'space of capabilities' refers to assessing equality based on people's real freedom, rather than theoretical or paper freedom. It focuses on their ability to pursue and achieve activities and states of life that they deeply value, and that are valuable from a broader perspective.
What is the main issue with traditional ways of measuring equality, according to the script?
-Traditional ways of measuring equality often focus on different spaces, such as resources or liberty, leading to disagreements. These approaches can be too narrow and fail to capture the full scope of people's real freedoms and capabilities.
How does Amartya Sen's theory differ from other theories of justice in terms of equality?
-Sen’s theory differs by emphasizing the importance of assessing equality through capabilities—real freedoms that allow individuals to act as agents and pursue valuable activities. This contrasts with other theories that might focus more on resources, utility, or fulfilling basic needs.
Why does Sen emphasize 'real freedom' rather than 'paper freedom'?
-Sen emphasizes 'real freedom' to highlight that theoretical freedoms written on paper are not sufficient. What matters is the actual ability of individuals to pursue meaningful activities and goals, rather than just having rights that may not be practically attainable.
How has Sen's idea of capabilities influenced economic thinking?
-Sen's idea of capabilities has widened the focus of economic thinking beyond just preferences or utility, encouraging economists to consider individuals' actual activities, states of being, and their freedom to act and create as agents in their own lives.
What is the role of agency in Sen's theory of capabilities?
-Agency plays a critical role in Sen’s theory. He believes that individuals should be viewed as agents who have the freedom to create and shape their lives, rather than being passive recipients of basic needs or welfare.
Why does Sen's theory reject the idea of simply providing basic needs?
-Sen’s theory rejects the idea of merely providing basic needs because it limits individuals' freedom and agency. He argues that people should have the freedom to act and create in an ongoing way, rather than being confined to a 'box' of basic needs fulfillment.
How did the speaker’s study of Amartya Sen's ideas influence their academic work?
-The speaker was deeply inspired by Sen’s ideas while studying theology, and these concepts formed the basis of their doctoral work. Sen's focus on capabilities and real freedom has been a continual theme in their academic and philosophical pursuits.
What broader perspective does Sen's theory of capabilities offer to discussions on justice?
-Sen’s theory offers a broader perspective by moving away from focusing solely on resources or utility and instead prioritizing individuals' freedom to achieve valued activities and states of being. This respects their agency and allows for a more dynamic approach to justice.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Amartya Sen's Approach to Equality

This paragraph introduces Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's observation from 1979 regarding equality. He highlights that the concept of equality varies depending on which 'space' we measure it in, such as resources, liberty, or something else. Sen proposes evaluating equality in the space of capabilities, emphasizing people's real freedom—not just theoretical freedom—to pursue and achieve the activities and states of life they deeply value and have reason to value from a broader perspective. This shift broadens economic thinking from focusing merely on preferences or utility to considering actual activities and states of being, while respecting individuals' freedom as agents.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Equality

Equality refers to the concept of providing the same rights, opportunities, and treatment to all individuals. In the script, equality is discussed as a principle that needs to be measured in different spaces, such as resources or liberty. The disagreements mentioned in the script revolve around how equality should be assessed and what aspect of life should be prioritized.

💡Space

In this context, 'space' refers to the different areas or dimensions where equality can be measured. Amartya Sen's observation highlights that people disagree about which 'space' to focus on when evaluating equality, whether it's resources, liberty, or something else. The idea of 'space' helps frame the different perspectives on justice and fairness.

💡Capabilities

Capabilities are the real freedoms that people have to pursue the activities and life states they value. Amartya Sen proposes that equality should be measured in terms of people’s capabilities. This concept shifts the focus from material resources or abstract freedoms to the actual ability of individuals to achieve their desired life outcomes.

💡Freedom

Freedom in this script is defined as more than just theoretical or 'paper' freedom; it is about real, practical freedom to act and achieve valuable life goals. Sen's focus on capabilities relates directly to this idea of freedom, which is essential for understanding justice and equality from a broader perspective.

💡Justice

Justice here refers to the fair and equitable distribution of opportunities, resources, and rights. Theories of justice, as mentioned in the script, are often divided based on how they assess equality in different spaces. Sen’s approach to justice focuses on the space of capabilities, emphasizing real freedom and agency.

💡Liberty

Liberty in the context of the script refers to the freedom individuals have in making personal and societal choices. The script contrasts liberty as a potential measure of equality with Sen’s concept of capabilities, which goes beyond abstract freedoms to consider the actual ability of individuals to achieve meaningful life outcomes.

💡Preferences

Preferences represent individuals' desires or choices. Traditional economic thinking often focuses on people's preferences or utility when evaluating well-being. However, the script suggests that Amartya Sen challenges this by focusing on activities and states of being, implying that preferences alone may not capture the full picture of human freedom and flourishing.

💡Utility

Utility, in economic terms, refers to the satisfaction or benefit derived from goods or services. Sen critiques the idea of focusing solely on utility to assess well-being, arguing that it is limited and does not capture the full range of human experience, including people’s actual capabilities and freedom to achieve valued states of being.

💡Agency

Agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own free choices. Sen’s framework places a high value on agency, as it is not enough to provide basic needs; people should have the freedom to act as agents in their lives. This perspective respects individuals' autonomy in creating and shaping their futures.

💡Basic needs

Basic needs refer to the fundamental necessities required for human survival and well-being, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The script mentions that Sen’s approach goes beyond simply providing basic needs, arguing that justice requires giving individuals the real freedom to shape their own lives through capabilities.

Highlights

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, in 1979, proposed a new way of thinking about equality by focusing on the space in which we measure it.

Sen argued that most disagreements about equality arise from the space we choose to measure, such as resources or liberty.

He introduced the idea of assessing equality in the space of capabilities, emphasizing people's real freedom to pursue valued activities.

The concept of capabilities refers to people's freedom to achieve activities and states of life that they deeply value.

Sen made a distinction between 'real freedom' and 'paper freedom,' focusing on actual capabilities rather than theoretical rights.

His work encouraged a broader perspective in economics, moving beyond mere preferences or utility to consider people's actual activities and states of being.

The capabilities approach also respects individuals' freedom to act as agents and continuously create, rather than confining them to fulfilling only basic needs.

Sen's ideas became foundational for widening economic thinking to include both freedom and the ability to achieve valuable life outcomes.

This theory influenced both philosophy and economics, blending these fields to form a more holistic view of justice and equality.

Amartya Sen’s focus on capabilities was a departure from traditional theories, emphasizing the importance of agency and individual freedom.

The approach inspired ongoing research and intellectual work, serving as the basis for the speaker’s doctoral studies.

The capabilities approach shifted the focus from resource distribution to human empowerment, agency, and freedom of choice.

Sen’s framework argues against a ‘boxed-in’ view of economic support, which only seeks to meet basic needs, likening it to a prison.

This theory is aligned with respecting human dignity and allowing people to create and act beyond their immediate needs.

Amartya Sen’s work continues to inspire both intellectual thought and practical applications in the fields of justice, freedom, and economics.