Human Capabilities and Human Authorities: A Comment on Martha Nussbaum’s Women and Human Development

Abstract:     
What does it mean to be truly human? And, relatedly, what does it mean to be treated as truly human, and with dignity, by the state, or community, of which one is a part? To be fully human, Martha Nussbaum has argued for the better part of two decades, and argues in greater detail in “Women and Human Development”, is not only to be rational, and not only to be happy, but also to be capable – capable, for example, of loving others, of thinking rationally about one's own life, of engaging in dignified labor, of interacting with the natural and political environment, of participating in a society’s cultural life. A truly human life is defined by, or perhaps constituted by, these capabilities; to lack anyone of them is in some way to lack a fundamental pillar of one’s humanity. Therefore, she continues, a citizen in a constitutional government is treated as fully human by the state when that person’s fundamental capabilities – the capabilities which define her humanity – are, at least minimally, protected, promoted or nurtured by the state’s governing authorities. Constitutional governments, then, whatever else they do, must protect, promote, or create whatever conditions are necessary for citizens to possess these fundamental capabilities . . . I will highlight and then amplify what I think is missing or underplayed in Nussbaum’s treatment of capabilities and women, and that is the role that authority plays – and the role it should and should not play – in guiding states toward a recognition of their obligation to nurture, promote, or protect women’s – and men’s and children’s – human capabilities.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 35

Keywords: Book Review, Martha Nussbaum, Women and Human Development, Human Capabilities, Constitution, Role of Authority, Constitutional Law

JEL Classification: K00

Accepted Paper Series