Abstract
The aim of this article is to examine the capability approach of Amartya Sen and mainstream economic theory in terms of their epistemological, methodological and philosophical/cultural aspects. The reason for undertaking this analysis is the belief that Sen's capability approach, contrary to some economists' claim, is uncongenial to mainstream economic views on epistemology and methodology (not on ontologically). However, while some social scientists regard that Sen, on the whole, is a mainstream economist, his own approach strongly criticizes both the theory and practice of mainstream economics.
Highlights
The main characteristic of the capability approach is its focus on doings and beings and the freedom to achieve them, instead of the goods and resources that people can
Human beings have to be given the opportunity to shape their own destiny rather than be the passive recipients of externally devised development projects like the westernization project that was designed by mainstream economics
It could be noted that the capability approach and mainstream economics display fairly discordant structures
Summary
Sen’s capability approach has often been criticized as being “too indefinite” or “insufficiently specified”. The main aim of his earlier studies was to show that social scientists cannot explain “development” within the framework of quantitative indicators only He argued that, in order to realize development, people’s capabilities should be focused on. Especially after the 1990’s, Sen himself expanded and more systematically explained his approach from different dimensions and emphasized the ontological description of his concepts within these studies It could be stated that Sen aims to portray the ontological descriptions of his own concepts to eliminate any complexity in his approach, he always focuses on the ethical prescriptions of the development process in all his studies. Sen emphasizes the importance of political, economic and social opportunities over transparency guarantees and protective security This emphasis on opportunities displays the importance of capacities and capabilities as potentials, rather than actualization in Sen’s capability approach
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