Equality of autonomy
Encyclopedia
Equality of autonomy is a concept from political philosophy
advocated by Amartya Sen
which suggests that societies should strive to help individuals have an equal chance at autonomy
or empowerment
. This means people should have "the ability and means to choose our life course" which should be "spread as equally as possible across society." It is an equal shot at empowerment rather than equal goods or equal chances. The concept has a slightly different emphasis from related notions about equality
, such as the value of having equal treatment without discrimination or prejudice in places such as the work world, generally known as equality of opportunity, and having equal material wealth, generally known as equality of outcome
. Equality of autonomy is best thought of as "equality in the degree of empowerment people have to make decisions affecting their lives" and strives to spread this empowerment widely so that people have more "choice and control ... given their circumstances." According to one view, Sen's approach requires "active intervention of institutions like the state into people's lives" but with an aim towards "fostering of people's self-creation rather than their living conditions." Sen argued that "the ability to convert incomes into opportunities is affected by a multiplicity of individual and social differences that mean some people will need more than others to achieve the same range of capabilities."
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
advocated by Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
which suggests that societies should strive to help individuals have an equal chance at autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
or empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
. This means people should have "the ability and means to choose our life course" which should be "spread as equally as possible across society." It is an equal shot at empowerment rather than equal goods or equal chances. The concept has a slightly different emphasis from related notions about equality
Equality
Equality may refer to:Social concepts* Egalitarianism, the belief that all/some people ought to be treated equally* Equality before the law* Equal opportunity* Equality of outcome or equality of condition* Gender equality* Racial equality...
, such as the value of having equal treatment without discrimination or prejudice in places such as the work world, generally known as equality of opportunity, and having equal material wealth, generally known as equality of outcome
Equality of outcome
Equality of outcome, equality of condition, or equality of results is a controversial political concept. Although it is not always clearly defined, it is usually taken to describe a state in which people have approximately the same material wealth or, more generally, in which the general conditions...
. Equality of autonomy is best thought of as "equality in the degree of empowerment people have to make decisions affecting their lives" and strives to spread this empowerment widely so that people have more "choice and control ... given their circumstances." According to one view, Sen's approach requires "active intervention of institutions like the state into people's lives" but with an aim towards "fostering of people's self-creation rather than their living conditions." Sen argued that "the ability to convert incomes into opportunities is affected by a multiplicity of individual and social differences that mean some people will need more than others to achieve the same range of capabilities."
See also
- Equality of opportunity
- Equality of outcomeEquality of outcomeEquality of outcome, equality of condition, or equality of results is a controversial political concept. Although it is not always clearly defined, it is usually taken to describe a state in which people have approximately the same material wealth or, more generally, in which the general conditions...
- Inequity aversionInequity aversionInequity aversion is the preference for fairness and resistance to incidental inequalities. The social sciences that study inequity aversion include sociology, economics, psychology, anthropology and ethology.-Human studies:...
- Equality under the law
- EgalitarianismEgalitarianismEgalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...