Nussbaum: The Central Human Functional Capabilities
What are the central life capabilities?
The central life capabilities are the actions and choices of functionality that humans by nature have.
The 10 are: 1.Life, 2.Bodily health and integrity, 3. Bodily integrity, 4.Senses, imagination, thought, 5.Emotions, 6.Practical reason, 7.Affiliation, 8.Other species, 9.Play, & 10.Control over one’s environment.
These capabilities are normal functions that occur in everyday life. These capabilities are the normal everyday functions that middle class people go through. These capabilities are not challenging to an average person, but to someone with a disability or someone who is poor, these are challenging. “The capabilities approach, as I conceived it, claims that a life that lacks any one of these capabilities, no matter what else it has, will fall short of being a good human life”(Nussbaum 216). This statement shows the need for uniformity in a government. Making these guide lines on how life capabilities should function gives the idea of equality, when in realization it is not. Nussbaum is arguing that capability, not function should be the goal of public policies. What I understand from this is that although most all of us are capable of these tasks; how we function actually represent what we are capable of. She is saying that although we have these capabilities, that we need to achieve, the only way someone can gage the purist of happiness of a nations population; is through the way that nation’s people act out and function to achieve the central life capabilities.
Nussbaum, Martha C. "The Central Human Functional Capabilities." A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2006. pp. 213-221.
4 comments:
People should have all the central human functional capabilities no matter what class they are from or what color the have it should be available to every one on the society.
Your blog was interesting to read. I hadn't really perceived Nussbaum's writing the way that you did so your blog gave me a different perspective, which is always good.
I understand your take on the composition but I ask you, do you believe in what the author stated? That a life is not a good one in for some reason one has an affliction in retaining one of the central human functions such as bodily intergrity? Good article though.
I agree it makes it difficult for every case of individual to fulfill the capabilites but they are all possible no matter what condition we are in and what makes it hard is the freedom of choice to apply ourselves in these capabilites.
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