Social Justice and Capability Approach. A note on theses of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum about the importance of pursuing goals of social justice through the capability approach

Andrea Villani ()
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Andrea Villani: Dipartimento di Economia Internazionale, delle Istituzioni e dello Sviluppo, Universita` Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano

Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Sociali, 2012, vol. 120, issue 2, 225-237

Abstract: This paper examines theses of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum about the importance of pursuing goals of social justice through the capability approach. Are considered here the reasons of such a method, whose aim is to reach development of the capabilities of every human being. It is discussed also if the ends proposed by Sen and Nussbaum – that can be appreciated and culturally supported – can be considered fruit of a neutral contractarian approach, as behind a Rawlsian ‘veil of ignorance’, to which Nussbaum makes explicit reference. Neutral approach, that is of subjects without awareness of their specific interests in the process of bargaining. Or instead proposals intuitively established, rationally justifiable only ex-post, that could find their implementation as the contractarian outcome of a real confrontation among social actors, supporters of specific diversified interest in a liberal and democratic society.

Keywords: Justice; Criteria of rationality in individual and social choice; Utopia; Democracy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A12 A13 B41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vep:journl:y:2012:v:120:i:2:p:225-237

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