Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Economics

PDF

Economics Faculty Research and Publications

2009

Capabilities

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Identity And Democracy: Linking Individual And Social Reasoning, John B. Davis, Solange Regina Marin Dec 2009

Identity And Democracy: Linking Individual And Social Reasoning, John B. Davis, Solange Regina Marin

Economics Faculty Research and Publications

Following Amartya Sen's approach, John Davis and Solange Regina Marin look at individual and social reasoning when examining the complex relationship between identity and democracy. They characterize democracy as a process of social or public reasoning that combines the individual reasoning of all citizens. Identity is explained in terms of personal identity, social identity, and individual identity. They argue that democracy in combining the individual reasoning of all citizens responds to individuals’ different personal identity concerns and needs, reflects their shared social identity interests and goals, and accords them rights and responsibilities associated with their many different individual identities.


The Capabilities Conception Of The Individual, John B. Davis Dec 2009

The Capabilities Conception Of The Individual, John B. Davis

Economics Faculty Research and Publications

This paper advances a capabilities conception of the individual, and considers some of the problems involved in developing such a conception. It also makes claims about the nature of the capability space as a whole, frames personal development in terms of the idea of moving though the capability space, and argues that people are alike in being increasingly heterogeneous. A key problem for a capabilities conception of the individual is that some capabilities, such as belonging to social groups and having social identities, can undermine individuality. The paper discusses an example in which people can have social identities but can …