Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20901/pp.14.1.01
What are we capable of doing and what kind of lives can we lead?: Well-being, development and justice
Marko Konjović
; University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory
*
Bojana Radovanović
orcid.org/0000-0002-9186-0326
; University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory
Aleksandra Bulatović
orcid.org/0000-0003-4273-8583
; University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This paper focuses on the capability/capabilities approach as a conceptual framework for assessing human well-being and as a normative paradigm for assessing human development and social justice. The capability/capabilities approach represents an alternative and a richer view of social development; that is, a view which implies that people have the freedom to realize their potentials and lead lives that they have reason to value. Moreover, the capability/capabilities approach defends the idea that social justice requires the provision of certain valuable capabilities to all citizens at least to the level required for a dignified life. This paper pays special emphasis on one key problem which besets the capability/capabilities approach. Namely, which capabilities are valuable? How should they be determined? By analyzing the “theoretical-reflective approach” and the “deliberative-democratic approach” as mutually opposed approaches to the project of determining valuable human capabilities for normative purposes, we argue that it is possible to combine these two approaches in a fruitful way.
Keywords
human capabilities; functionings; capability approach; well-being; development; justice
Hrčak ID:
318604
URI
Publication date:
29.6.2024.
Visits: 449 *