Year
2014
Season
Spring
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Practical Philosophy and Applied Ethics (MA)
Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Hans-Herbert Koegler
Second Advisor
Dr. Andrew Buchwalter
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Third Advisor
Dr. Mitch Haney
Department Chair
Dr. Hans-Herbert Koegler
College Dean
Dr. Barbara Hetrick
Abstract
Critical Realism, the Capabilities Approach, and Marxism, all have underdeveloped theoretical problems. For Critical Realism, the ceteris paribus clause, which is used to asses an ideological critique, does not properly specify what other things warrant the dismissal or acceptance of said critique. For the Capabilities Approach, a proper ontology or metaphysics is missing, and the claim that the Capabilities Approach can be metaphysically neutral is false. Finally, Marxism is good at describing the more onerous aspects of capitalism (e.g., alienation, exploitation, crisis), but it does not provide normative force for seeing these descriptions as bad. I argue that these three schools of thought, when connected through the ontology of Critical Realism, can be rendered mutually inclusive, and each theory can help address the lacuna in its respective counterpart. Critical Realism gives to Marxism and the Capabilities Approach ontological justification, and the Capabilities Approach gives to Critical Realism and Marxism normative force. And finally, Marxism gives to the Capabilities Approach a more radical, but consistent twist that furthers the goal of realizing our shared human powers.
Suggested Citation
Byron, Christopher, "Critically Developing Real Capabilities" (2014). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 485.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/485