Abstract
This chapter will be divided into two stages, the first addressing the ambiguity regarding the justification of the duty of assistance. The second stage will take the first step in addressing the ambiguity regarding the extent of the duty. Engaging with these issues will also afford an opportunity to consider some broader criticisms of Rawls’ political theory. I look initially to a discussion of the capability perspective developed by Nussbaum. Sen originally developed the capability perspective as an extension of Rawls’ contractarian position, presenting a different index for the measurement of distributive justice. Nussbaum takes the idea of capability and develops it as the core of an alternative political theory. Nussbaum’s perspective involves deep criticisms of Rawls’ central assumptions, and in so doing provides us with some interesting questions regarding the status of non-compliant agents in his theory, which throw light on our discussion of burdened societies and the duty of assistance owed to them.
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© 2011 Huw Lloyd Williams
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Williams, H.L. (2011). Considering the Capability Perspective. In: On Rawls, Development and Global Justice. International Political Theory Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307179_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307179_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-32577-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-30717-9
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