Sociological Theory and the Capability Approach

✍ Scribed by Spiros Gangas

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 325
• Series: International Library of Sociology
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.

✦ Table of Contents

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