Capabilities Compatible with Political Liberalism? A Third Way

Brooks, Thom

doi:10.52685/cjp.21.62.1

Capabilities Compatible with Political Liberalism? A Third Way

Brooks, Thom

Authors

Professor Thom Brooks thom.brooks@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between capabilities and political liberalism. There are two views about how they might be compatible: Sen claims capabilities should be seen as a revision of primary goods while Nussbaum argues capabilities should form part of an overlapping consensus. It is argued they are both right—and incorrect. Whereas Sen identifies where compatibility might best be found, it is Nussbaum’s conception of capabilities that is able to overcome Rawls’s objections to Sen’s proposal. This provides a new third way of conceiving how capabilities and political liberalism might address these concerns that is more compelling for how Sen and Nussbaum claim. The two rivals can come together, but not in the way that either of its most well known champions have argued.

Citation

Brooks, T. (2021). Capabilities Compatible with Political Liberalism? A Third Way. Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 21(62), 237-250. https://doi.org/10.52685/cjp.21.62.1

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 15, 2020
Publication Date	2021
Deposit Date	Dec 20, 2021
Publicly Available Date	Dec 20, 2021
Journal	Croatian journal of philosophy
Print ISSN	1333-1108
Publisher	Philosophy Documentation Center
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	21
Issue	62
Pages	237-250
DOI	https://doi.org/10.52685/cjp.21.62.1