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SEN'S ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY Capabilities and Human Development in the Revival of Economics as a Moral Science

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Abstract

Sen joins a line of economists - including Cropsey, Schumacher, Myrdal, Ward, Higgins and Etzioni - who have objected to the implicit political philosophy within orthodox neo-classical economics. He argues that the good or just society requires policies to remove all forms of �unfreedoms�, and policies to equalise the extent of capability deprivation. This capabilities approach calls for a rejection of utilitarianism, libertarianism and Rawlsianism in favour of the conception of justice provided by his putatively Smithian/Aristotelian approach. In taking the expansion of freedom to be both the principal end and the principal means of development, however, Sen ignores other philosophical positions which lead to quite different conclusions. Accordingly, his argument remains incomplete and unpersuasive, and the most fundamental questions remain to be resolved.

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  • L.A. Duhs, 2008. "SEN'S ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY Capabilities and Human Development in the Revival of Economics as a Moral Science," Discussion Papers Series 366, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    • Handle: RePEc:qld:uq2004:366
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    File URL: https://economics.uq.edu.au/files/44567/366.pdf
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    1. Benjamin Ward, 1972. "What’s Wrong with Economics II," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: What’s Wrong with Economics?, chapter 16, pages 237-246, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Sen, Amartya K, 1979. "Personal Utilities and Public Judgements: Or What's Wrong with Welfare Economics?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 89(355), pages 537-558, September.
    3. Amartya Sen, 1997. "Development and Thinking at the Beginning of the 21st Century," STICERD - Development Economics Papers - From 2008 this series has been superseded by Economic Organisation and Public Policy Discussion Papers 02, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    4. Benjamin Ward, 1972. "What’s Wrong with Economics?," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-01806-2, October.
    5. 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.
    6. Benjamin Ward, 1972. "What’s Wrong with Economics I," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: What’s Wrong with Economics?, chapter 6, pages 89-92, Palgrave Macmillan.
    7. Sen, Amartya, 1997. "Development thinking at the beginning of the 21st century," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 6711, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. L A Duhs, 2022. "‘Freedom’ on the Road to Ruin: An Australian Apology to America’s Freedom-Loving Hard Right," Working Papers hal-03701554, HAL.
    2. L Duhs, 2022. "‘Freedom’ on the Road to Ruin: An Australian Apology to America’s Freedom-Loving Hard Right," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 15(1), pages 124-157.
    3. James E. Alvey, 2011. "A Short History of Ethics and Economics," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12674.
    4. Bowbrick, Peter, 2020. "Toxic famine research and how it suppresses its critics," MPRA Paper 101970, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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