Disability and the Capability Approach
Anne-‐Marie S. Christensen Department of the Study of Culture – Philosophy
University of Southern Denmark [email protected]
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So the way we think about the needs of children and adults with impairments and disabilities is not a special department of life, easily condoned of from the ‘average case’. It also has implications for the way ‘normals’ (people with average ?laws and limitations) think about their parents as they age – and about the needs they themselves are likely to have if they live long enough. (Nussbaum 2006, 101)
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What to do…
• Introduction • The Capability Approach • Nussbaum’s list of capabilities • Disability according to the Capability Approach
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Founders of the Capability Approach
Amartya Sen (1933-‐). Economist. Philosopher.
Martha Nussbaum (1947-‐) Philosopher. Feminist.
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Background
• The Capability Approach grows out of a concern for social justice • Two main concerns:
a) Philosophical: How do we achieve justice for human beings? We need an understanding of the good for human beings
b) Economical:
How do we measure the quality of lives in societies? BNP? Utility measure? Problems?
v Measures average, not individuals v Exclusive focus on resources v Insuf?icient focus on autonomy, individual life choices
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Fundamental Assumptions of the Capability Approach
A. Justice concerns ends, not means We should secure valuable ends for people, not particular means
B. Capabilities are such valuable ends! • NOT Functioning: Activities, doings à Focus on achievements • BUT Capabilities: Practical opportunities to function; what we can be & can do à Focus on possibilities
C. Capabilities are determined by the social context
D. Justice requires that individuals have capabilities above a minimum threshold
E. The Capabilities Approach allows for pluralism in ways of living
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What Capabilities?
Sen: • The relevant capabilities should be found through a democratic process in each society
• ( Relativism. Conservatism…?)
Nussbaum: • We need an objective list • The capabilities are not interchangeable nor commensurable & cannot be measured via access to resources (in contrast to Sen)
• The list must be … Ø Open-‐ended Ø Abstract and general Ø Allow for pluralism
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Nussbaum’s inspiration?
Aristotle: • The idea of human Jlourishing as ethically fundamental
Marx: • The notion of the human being as ‘in need of a totality of life activities’ and opportunities for such activities
à List of the most important capabilities in human life
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Nussbaums list of basic capabilities
1. Life: To be able to live a full human life 2. Bodily Health: To be able to have good health, nourishment, shelter 3. Bodily Integrity: To be able to move freely, security from assault etc. 4. Senses, Imagination & Thought: To be able to use … 5. Emotions: To be able to have attachments & a wide range of emotions 6. Practical Reason: To be able to form a conception of the good & plan
one’s own life 7. AfJiliation: a. To be able to live with and towards others
b. To be able to have the social bases of selfrespect 8. Other species: To be able to live with animals, plant & nature 9. Play and recreation 10. Control over one’s environment:´
a. Political: Right to political participation b. Material: The right to hold property and seek employment on equal basis with others
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The Capability Approach on Disability
• A disability is a deprivation in terms of capabilities, that is, a lack of opportunity to be or to do, that results from a person’s characteristics, resources and the environment.
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Model of the Capability Approach
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The Capability Approach on Disability
• A disability is a deprivation in terms of capabilities, that is, a lack of opportunity to be or to do, that results from a person’s characteristics, resources and the environment.
• The difference to ICF is that disability is not a ‘limitation in daily activities’, but in practical opportunities (Burchardt 2004, 741)
• Liberation from disability is about having opportunities for choices, not living up to a standard of normality.
Society should strive to give [the disabled] as many as the capabilities as possible directly; and where direct empowerment is not possible, society ought to give her the capabilities through a suitable arrangement of guardianship [and care]. (Nussbaum 2006, 193)
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The Capability Approach on Disability
• We can now see disability as a case where a human being has an extraordinary need for resources in order to get a minimum threshold with regard to capabilities.
• Variation in need is a pervasive feature of human life (to be a child, to be pregnant, to be old)
• That is, disability is on a continuum with being in grief, aging, being sick, being pregnant – a part of the human condition
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Thank you
Further reading: Burchardt, T. (2004). “Capabilities & Disability: The capabilities framework
and the social model of disability”, Disability & Society 19/7:735-‐751. Mitra, S. (2006). ”The Capabilities approach and Disability”. J of Disability
Policy Studies 16: 236-‐247. Nussbaum, M. (2000). Woman and Human Development: The Capabilities
approach. Nussbaum, M. (2006). Frontiers of Justice. Disability, Nationality, Species
Membership. Sen, A. (1995). Commodities and Capabilities.
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