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15 - Indigenous challenges to the capability approach

A relational ontology of community and sustainability

from Part III - Social Choice and Capabilities in Action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2024

Flavio Comim
Affiliation:
Universitat Ramon Llull
P. B. Anand
Affiliation:
University of Bradford
Shailaja Fennell
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

This chapter offers a rereading of Amartya Sen’s capability approach (CA) from the perspective of the Andean region that highlights their differences. The aim of this chapter is to contribute to the engagement of the CA with indigenous philosophies, and to use the latter’s insights to push the former’s boundaries. In particular, the authors discuss the differences between the relational ontology that underpins the BV framework with the dualistic ontology upon which Sen’s CA is built. While Sen’s ethical considerations in development remain of paramount importance for contemporary thinking and practice, the focus on individual freedom within the CA is embedded within a dualistic ontology that separates humans from nature and individuals from their societies. A consideration of the challenges associated with the BV framework allows the authors to address some of the most contentious areas within the CA literature: those relating to collective capabilities and sustainability issues.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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