The human capability theory method has emerged as
a new theoretical framework for well-being, development and justice. The
evolution of this framework dates back to Aristotle, Adam Smith and Karl Marx.
However, Professor Amartya Sen pioneered this approach and it
was further developed by Martha Nussbaum and several other
scholars. The capability approach states that freedom to achieve well-being is
a matter of what people are capable to do and being and hence the kind of life
they are effectively able to lead.
The capability approach can be considered as a framework which involves the
following exercises:
1. Assessing the individual well being.
2. Evaluating and assessing the social arrangements.
3. Designing policies for social change in society.
The capability approach prioritizes some of the beings and doings of people and
their opportunity to realise those beings and doings. In simple words, the
capabilities approach tells us what information to look at if we are to judge
how well someone's life is going. To apply this approach one needs to decide on
the beings and doings that matter and one also should know how to aggregate
each person's functionalities and capabilities for the overall assessment of
well-being.
Capabilities: Capabilities include the opportunity or freedom a human has
to achieve the functionalities.
Functionings: Functioning means the various states that humans can be in, also
termed as 'beings' and various activities that humans can undertake, also known
as the 'doings'. Some examples of 'beings' are being well-nourished and
under-nourished, being educated or illiterate, being included in a support
social system or being part of a criminal network.
We will read more about Amartya Sen's Capability approach in
this post.
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