Skip to main content

Sen and Nussbaum on Human Capabilities in Business

  • Chapter
Humanistic Ethics in the Age of Globality

Part of the book series: Humanism in Business Series ((HUBUS))

  • 1108 Accesses

Abstract

In recent years there have been several important critical investigations aimed at overcoming the flaws in economics and business. With regard to economics, different approaches and criticisms have shown that cognitive, ethical, and social limits are always present when agents (and thus economic agents too) make a choice.1 These considerations also tie in with a sharp criticism of the standard notion of rationality and the idea of homo oeconomicus, as they are understood in mainstream economic theory. With regard to business, as well, many inquiries that were focused on the analysis of decision-making within organizations have shown that individual and collective choices are limited or enhanced by ethical, cognitive, and social elements that play a fundamental role in a company’s organization and activity

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Bibliography

  • Andrews, K. (ed.), Ethics in Practice: Managing the Moral Corporation, (Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  • Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, translated by D. Ross, revised by J.L. Ackrill and J.O. Urmson, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier J. and R. Esteban, “Governance in the Participative Organisation: Freedom, Creativity and Ethics”, Journal of Business Ethics 21(2/3) (1999) 173–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, J.M., Reason and Human Good in Aristotle, (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius, N., Building Workplace Equality: Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion, (London: Thomson International Business Press, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius, N. and S. Gagnon, “From ethics by proxy to ethics in action: new approaches to understanding ethics and HRM”, Business Ethics: A European Review 8(4) (1999) 225–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius, N. and S. Gagnon, “Re- examining workplace equality: the capabilities approach”, Human Resource Management Journal 10(4) (2000) 68–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius, N. and S. Gagnon, “From equal opportunities to managing diversity to capabilities: a new theory of workplace equality?”, in N. Cornelius (ed.) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Work Organizations (Thomson International Business Press, London, 2002) 13–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius, N. and S. Gagnon, “Still bearing the mark of Cain? Ethics and inequality measurement”, Business Ethics: A European Review 13(1) (2004) 26–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius N., Todres M., Janjuha- Jivraj S., Woods A., Wallace J., “Corporate Social Responsibility and the Social Enterprise”, Journal of Business Ethics 81 (2) (2008) 355–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, J.B, The Theory of the Individual in Economics, (Routledge, London, 2003).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dierksmeier, C., “Quantitative oder qualitative Freiheit?”, in P. Becchi et. al (hrsg.), Nationen und Gerechtigkeit, Rechtsphilosophische Hefte; Beiträge zur Rechtswissenschaft, Philosophie und Politik, Band 12, (Frankfurt a.M.- Berlin- Bern- Bruxelles- New York- Oxford- Wien: Peter Lang, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovanola, B., “Personhood and Human Richness. Good and Well- Being in the Capability Approach and Beyond”, Review of Social Economy 63(2) (2005) 249–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giovanola, B., “Sulla capacità di essere felici: riflessioni su ricchezza, benessere e libertà a partire dal capability approach”, Meridiana 56 (2007) 83–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giovanola, B., “Re- Thinking the Anthropological and Ethical Foundation of Economics and Business: Human Richness and Capabilities Enhancement”, Journal of Business Ethics, 88 (2009) 431–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hausman, D.M. and M.S. McPherson, Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy, 2nd edition of Economic Analysis and Moral Philosophy, (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press 2006).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, F., Social Limits to Growth, (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1976).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D. and A. Tversky: 1979, “Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk”, Econometrica 47(2), 263–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman D., Slovic P., and A. Tversky (eds.): 1982, Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases (Cambridge University Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D. and A. Tversky (eds.), Choices, Values and Frames (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1903, Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten [1785], in Kant’s gesammelte Schriften, Abteilung I: Werke, Band 4 (hrsg. von der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin; subsequently ed. by de Gruyter, Berlin) [English translation by Th. Kingsmill Abbott, edited with revisions by L. Denis, Groundwork for the metaphysics of morals, Broadview Press, Orchard Park, NY, 2005].

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I.: 1974, Vorlesung über Moralphilosophie, in Kant’s gesammelte Schriften, Abteilung IV: Vorlesungen, Band 27 (hrsg. von der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin; subsequently ed. by de Gruyter, Berlin).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marx, K.: 1844, “Ökonomisch- Philosophische Manüskripte aus dem Jahre 1844”, in Marx- Engels Werke (MEW), Ergänzungsband I (Dietz Verlag, Berlin, 1968) 465–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melé, D., “The Challenge of Humanistic Management”, Journal of Business Ethics 44 (2003) 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., The Fragility of Goodness: Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., “Nature, Function and Capability: Aristotle on Political Distribution”, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, Supplement, (1988) 145–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., “Aristotelian Social Democracy”, in R.B. Douglass, G. Mara, H. Richardson (eds.), Liberalism and the Good, (New York: Routledge, 1990), 203–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., “Non- Relative Virtues: an Aristotelian Approach”, in M. Nussbaum and A. Sen (eds.), The Quality of Life, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993) 242–269.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., “Aristotle on Human Nature and the Foundations of Ethics”, in J.E.J. Altham, R. Harrison (eds), World, Mind and Ethics: Essays on the Ethical Philosophy of Bernard Williams, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995) 86–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M., Frontiers of Justice: Disability, Nationality, Species Membership, (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2006).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nussbaum, M. and A. Sen:, “Internal Criticism and Indian Rationalist Traditions”, in M. Krausz (ed.), Relativism: Interpretation and Confrontation, (Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  • Robeyns, I., “The Capability Approach – A Theoretical Survey”, Journal of Human Development 6(1), (2005) 93–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Rational Fools”, Philosophy and Public Affairs 6, (1977) 317–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Equality of what?”, in A. Sen (ed.), Choice, Welfare and Measurement (Oxford: Blackwell, 1980) 353–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Well- Being, Agency, and Freedom. The Dewey Lectures 1984”, The Journal of Philosophy 82, (1985) 169–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., On Ethics and Economics, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1987a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., The Standard of Living: The Tanner Lectures 1985, ed.G. Hawthorn (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987b).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Capability and Well- Being”, in M. Nussbaum and A. Sen (eds.), The Quality of Life (Oxford: Clarendon Press 1993) 30–53.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., Development as Freedom, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., Reason before Identity, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., Rationality and Freedom, (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Elements of a Theory of Human Rights”, Philosophy and Public Affairs 32(4) (2004) 315–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Human Rights and Capabilities”, Journal of Human Development 6(2) (2005a) 151–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., “Why Exactly is Commitment Important for Rationality?”, Economics and Philosophy 21(1) (2005b) 5–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A.:, “La felicità è importante ma altre cose lo sono di più”, in L. Bruni, P.L. Porta (eds), Felicità e libertà. Economia e benessere in prospettiva relazionale (Guerini e Associati, Milano, 2006) 39–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen A., The Idea of Justice (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2009).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A., and B. Williams (eds), Utilitarianism and Beyond (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H.A., Models of Bounded Rationality, vol. 1, 2 (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H.A., Models of Bounded Rationality, vol. 3 (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H.A., “Bounded Rationality in Social Sciences: Today and Tomorrow”, Mind & Society 1(1) (2000) 25–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic P., Finucane M., Peters E., and D. MacGregor:, “The Affect Heuristic”, in T. Gilovich, D. Griffin, D. Kahneman (eds), Heuristic and Biases: The Psychology of Intuitive Thought (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002) 397–420.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt C. P., “Maximizing Human Potential: Capabilities Theory and the Professional Work Environment”, Journal of Business Ethics 58, (2005) 111–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2011 Benedetta Giovanola

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Giovanola, B. (2011). Sen and Nussbaum on Human Capabilities in Business. In: Dierksmeier, C., Amann, W., von Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. (eds) Humanistic Ethics in the Age of Globality. Humanism in Business Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230314139_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics