The Cambridge Handbook of the Capability Approach

Modern Work On The 'capability Approach' (or 'capabilities Approach') Dates From Amartya Sen's 1979 Tanner Lecture On 'equality Of What?' Which Addressed A Central Question For Egalitarians: What Should Egalitarians Seek To Equalise? In This Context Sen Suggested That 'what Is Missing In All This ... Is Some Notion Of Basic Capabilities: A Person Being Able To Do Certain Basic Things' (sen 1982: 367). This Insight Was Further Developed In Sen's Writings On Development, Normative Economics And Moral And Political Philosophy. Martha Nussbaum's Engagement With Sen's Work And Her Endorsement Of The Approach Also Contributed To The Expansion Of Interest In This Area. Subsequently, The Approach Has Inspired A Large And Growing Literature Across Many Disciplines, Encompassing Both Theoretical And Empirical Domains, And Including Work Which Is Relevant To Policy Makers-- Provided By Publisher.