Sociological Theory And The Capability Approach (international Library Of Sociology)

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 1 Half Title 4 Series Page 5 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Table of Contents 10 List of Figures 13 Acknowledgements 14 List of Abbreviations 16 Introduction 18 Sociological theory and the Capability Approach (CA) 18 A very brief overview of CA 19 Some limitations of sociological theory 22 Plan of the book 25 Notes 28 References 30 Part I: Values, economy and society 34 Chapter 1: Valuing values in sociology and the Capability Approach 36 Methodological preamble 36 Weber, Scheler and the collective validity of values 39 CA in the context of sociological value-theo 46 A Durkheimian rejoinder 54 ‘Valuing values’ in CA 59 Notes 62 References 70 Chapter 2: Economy and society: A CA-based synthesis? 74 Entering economic suffering 74 Economy and society (I): from embeddedness to vocabularies of motives 77 Economy and society (II): a heuristic typology 79 Liberalism and socialism (I): the CA ‘Adam Smith–Karl Marx’ dialogue 97 Liberalism and socialism (II): CA and Hegel 99 Liberalism and socialism (III): contemporary attempts at synthesis 102 Pragmatic codas 107 Concluding remark 108 Notes 110 References 119 Part II: Agency, alienation and emotions 126 Chapter 3: From agency to capabilities: The capable social self 128 Preliminary remarks: CA and agency 128 Capabilities: a new framework for normative action? 129 Natural law, human agency, and CA 134 Excursus on human rights 138 From capacity to capability (I): Parsons and Sen 141 From capacity to capability (II): Giddens’ wanting normativity 145 Enriching agency 148 Notes 151 References 157 Chapter 4: From alienation to capability deprivation: Reconstructing asociological concept 162 Why alienation? Some conceptual limitations 162 Why CA? Elements of a new research programme for alienation 164 Decompressing alienation: the essentialist (re)turn in CA 167 Excursus on alienation without essentialism: a critique 168 Alienation from what? Deprivation from what? 175 Reconstructing alienation as capability deprivation: ‘back’ to value-formation! 180 Chapter 5: The Capability Approach and the sociology of emotions 196 Emotions, suffering and the fragility of the social self 196 ‘Capable’ emotions and the good society (I): the politics of emotions 198 Negative emotions unbound (I): disgust and shame 202 Negative emotions unbound (II): envy and ressentiment 206 ‘Capable’ emotions and the good society (II): empathy or sympathy? 209 The social self and cultural problems of identity 215 Notes 220 References 227 Part III: IIIInstitutions, modernity and fundamentalism 232 Chapter 6: ‘Capable institutions’? Rebuilding social ethics 234 The shift to ‘capable’ institutions 234 CA, institutions and pluralism 240 Rethinking social ethics: CA and Parsons 246 The challenge of Luhmann’s systems theory 252 Axel Honneth and the sociological theory of justice 258 Deliberative democracy and CA 261 Notes 262 References 267 Chapter 7: The crisis of capability? Value-fundamentalism andsolitarist identity 271 Introduction: decline – again? 271 Cultural identity and cultural illusions: how CA responds 272 What is fundamentalism? A sociological explanation 276 Sen’s comparative broadening and the sociological problem of parallax or of blind spot 283 Values, globalization and Ausgleich 286 Notes 294 References 302 Epilogue 307 Index 311 "Sociological Theory and 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"-- Provided by publisher