Inequality Reexamined
Encyclopedia
Inequality Reexamined is a book by Amartya Sen
(first published by Harvard University Press
).
In it Sen evaluates the different perspectives of the general notion of inequality, focusing mainly on his well known capability approach
. The author argues that inequality is a central notion to every social theory
that has stood on time. For only if this basic feature is satisfied can a social theory which advocates a set of social arrangements be plausible. Taken the inequality ingredient for granted, the crucial question becomes: inequality of what? Sen answers this basic question by advocating his preferred notion of equality which is based on the capability for functionings.
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...
(first published by Harvard University Press
Harvard University Press
Harvard University Press is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. In 2005, it published 220 new titles. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. Its current director is William P...
).
In it Sen evaluates the different perspectives of the general notion of inequality, focusing mainly on his well known capability approach
Capability approach
The capability approach was initially conceived in the 1980s as an approach to welfare economics....
. The author argues that inequality is a central notion to every social theory
Social theory
Social theories are theoretical frameworks which are used to study and interpret social phenomena within a particular school of thought. An essential tool used by social scientists, theories relate to historical debates over the most valid and reliable methodologies , as well as the primacy of...
that has stood on time. For only if this basic feature is satisfied can a social theory which advocates a set of social arrangements be plausible. Taken the inequality ingredient for granted, the crucial question becomes: inequality of what? Sen answers this basic question by advocating his preferred notion of equality which is based on the capability for functionings.
Functionings and the role of freedom
Functionings are of two kinds: elementary ones such as being in good health, nourished, sheltered and the more complex, social ones such as having self respect, taking part in the life of the community etc. Achievement of an individual is the set of these realized functionings. Whereas capability refers to the real options that someone has in order to pursue his subjective functionings who prefers most. Nevertheless inequalities related to class, gender, communities seem to hinder the extent of human freedom and thus decrease our capability to function. That is why a good society ought to mitigate such discrimination, promoting people's freedom which, according to Sen, is the most valuable element of a satisfactory life.External links
- Online version: Inequality Reexamined, Oxford Scholarship Online