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Perfectionism, Paternalism and Liberalism in Sen and Nussbaum's Capability Approach

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  • Severine Deneulin

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyse the theoretical foundations of human development policies as found in Sen's and Nussbaum's capability approach to development, and to examine to what extent undertaking policies according to the capability approach respects people's freedom to pursue their own conception of the good. The paper argues that policies undertaken according to the capability approach have to be guided by a perfectionist conception of the good; that is, they cannot avoid promoting one certain conception of the human good. Such a perfectionist conception of the human good, and the policies ensuing from it, has often been qualified as paternalist, depriving the human being of choosing her own conception of the good. The paper examines to what extent those fears of paternalism that seem to underlie policies guided by a perfectionist account of the good are legitimate, and to what extent the capability approach can escape those charges of paternalism and respect each person's freedom to pursue the human good as she conceives it.

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  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:revpoe:v:14:y:2002:i:4:p:497-518
    DOI: 10.1080/0953825022000009924
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    1. New, Bill, 1999. "Paternalism and Public Policy," Economics and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 63-83, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ingrid Robeyns, 2016. "Capabilitarianism," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 397-414, July.
    2. Farah Naz, 2022. "Capabilities and Human Well-Being: How to Bridge the Missing Link?," International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, Inovatus Services Ltd., vol. 8(2), pages 61-71, June.
    3. Kenji Mori & Shintaro Tamate, 2014. "Pasinetti after Sen: Towards a Capability Approach to Structural Dynamics of Consumption," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(4), pages 690-716, November.
    4. Antoinette Baujard & Adrien Lutz, 2018. "The capacity to confuse: rescuing the Saint-Simonian notion of ability from modern capability theories of social justice," Working Papers 1837, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    5. Frank S. Arku, 2010. "Time savings from easy access to clean water," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 10(3), pages 233-246, July.
    6. Stefan Mann, 2006. "Merit goods in a utilitarian framework," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 509-520.
    7. Mann, Stefan, 2005. "Trade Restrictions on Farmland - a Utilitarian Analysis of Paternalistic Laws," Working Papers 30709, Agroscope Reckenholz Tanikon (ART).
    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.
    9. Mozaffar Qizilbash, 2002. "Development, Common Foes and Shared Values," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 463-480.

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