Sociological Theory and the Capability Approach

Description

Sociological Theory and the Capability Approach connects normative strands of sociological theory to the fusion of ethics and economics proposed by Amartya Sen’s and Martha Nussbaum’s capability approach. Spanning classical (Hegel, Marx, Durkheim, Scheler, Weber) and contemporary debates (Parsons, Giddens, Luhmann) it identifies areas that bridge the current gap between sociology and capability approach. It thus builds on explanatory and normative concerns shared by both traditions. Engaging readers from sociology and capability approach, Spiros Gangas suggests that the proposed dialogue should be layered along the main areas of value theory, economy and society, extending this inquiry into the normative meaning attached to being human. To this end, the book reconstructs the notion of agency along the tracks of Nussbaum’s central human capabilities, considering also alienation and the sociology of emotions. It concludes by addressing the capability approach through the lens of social institutions before it takes up the challenge of ideological fundamentalism and how it can be effectively confronted by capability approach. This original book provides a fresh perspective on capability approach as it embeds it in the rich pool of sociological theory’s accomplishments. As an exercise in theoretical and normative convergence, it will be required reading for academics and students in social theory, cultural theory, philosophy and human development studies. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Sociological theory and the Capability Approach (CA) A very brief overview of CA Some limitations of sociological theory Plan of the book Notes References Part I: Values, economy and society Chapter 1: Valuing values in sociology and the Capability Approach Methodological preamble Weber, Scheler and the collective validity of values CA in the context of sociological value-theo A Durkheimian rejoinder ‘Valuing values’ in CA Notes References Chapter 2: Economy and society: A CA-based synthesis? Entering economic suffering Economy and society (I): from embeddedness to vocabularies of motives Economy and society (II): a heuristic typology Liberalism and socialism (I): the CA ‘Adam Smith–Karl Marx’ dialogue Liberalism and socialism (II): CA and Hegel Liberalism and socialism (III): contemporary attempts at synthesis Pragmatic codas Concluding remark Notes References Part II: Agency, alienation and emotions Chapter 3: From agency to capabilities: The capable social self Preliminary remarks: CA and agency Capabilities: a new framework for normative action? Natural law, human agency, and CA Excursus on human rights From capacity to capability (I): Parsons and Sen From capacity to capability (II): Giddens’ wanting normativity Enriching agency Notes References Chapter 4: From alienation to capability deprivation: Reconstructing asociological concept Why alienation? Some conceptual limitations Why CA? Elements of a new research programme for alienation Decompressing alienation: the essentialist (re)turn in CA Excursus on alienation without essentialism: a critique Alienation from what? Deprivation from what? Reconstructing alienation as capability deprivation: ‘back’ to value-formation! Chapter 5: The Capability Approach and the sociology of emotions Emotions, suffering and the fragility of the social self ‘Capable’ emotions and the good society (I): the politics of emotions Negative emotions unbound (I): disgust and shame Negative emotions unbound (II): envy and ressentiment ‘Capable’ emotions and the good society (II): empathy or sympathy? The social self and cultural problems of identity Notes References Part III: IIIInstitutions, modernity and fundamentalism Chapter 6: ‘Capable institutions’? Rebuilding social ethics The shift to ‘capable’ institutions CA, institutions and pluralism Rethinking social ethics: CA and Parsons The challenge of Luhmann’s systems theory Axel Honneth and the sociological theory of justice Deliberative democracy and CA Notes References Chapter 7: The crisis of capability? Value-fundamentalism andsolitarist identity Introduction: decline – again? Cultural identity and cultural illusions: how CA responds What is fundamentalism? A sociological explanation Sen’s comparative broadening and the sociological problem of parallax or of blind spot Values, globalization and Ausgleich Notes References Epilogue Index