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Ethic Theory Moral Prac (2014) 17:875892
DOI 10.1007/s10677-014-9487-y
Paul Formosa & Catriona Mackenzie
Accepted: 8 January 2014 /Published online: 22 January 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Abstract The concept of dignity plays a foundational role in the more recent versions of Martha Nussbaums capabilities theory. However, despite its centrality to her theory, Nussbaums conception of dignity remains under-theorised. In this paper we critically examine the role that dignity plays in Nussbaums theory by, first, developing an account of the concept of dignity and introducing a distinction between two types of dignity, status dignity and achievement dignity. Next, drawing on this account, we analyse Nussbaums conception of dignity and contrast it with Kants conception of dignity. On the basis of this comparison between Nussbaum and Kant, we highlight tensions between Nussbaums Aristotelianism, which is central to her conception of dignity, and her commitment to political liberalism. This leads us to conclude that Nussbaums claim that her conception of dignity is only a partial political conception is implausible and that her conception of dignity seems to commit her to a satisficing form of perfectionist liberalism.
Keywords Dignity. Capabilities Approach . Nussbaum . Kant . Political Liberalism . Perfectionism
1 Introduction
The concept of dignity plays a foundational role in the more recent versions of Martha Nussbaums capabilities theory.1 Nussbaum (2006, p. 161) claims that capabilities and dignity are intertwined concepts in the sense that capabilities, or at least the ten central capabilities on her list, are ways of realizing a life with human dignity. She also says that her account of political entitlements, which guarantees each individual an ample threshold of each of the goods on her list, is a way of fleshing out the ideas of dignity and respect (Nussbaum 2006, p. 174). However, despite its centrality to her theory, Nussbaums conception of dignity remains under-theorised (Claassen and Dwell 2012). Furthermore, explicating her account of dignity and explaining its role in her version of capabilities theory exposes internal tensions within her view and raises a series of questions about its philosophical commitments and implications.
1In the earlier versions of her capabilities theory Nussbaum focused on what a truly human life requires, whereas in her more recent versions the focus is on what a dignified...