<p>This thesis is an examination of the concept of human development and does a comparative study of Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. Sen rectifies the emphasis on income by welfare economics, and argues for the ‘equality of capability’; a goal that he says can be achieved by means of the intrinsic and instrumental role of democracy. However, the author notes that Sen’s development paradigm is inadequate as an account for what constitutes the kind of well-being that is fully human and asserts that Sen’s framework should be concretized politically. In view of this, the author argues that Nussbaum’s articulation of a ‘threshold of capabilities’, anchored on her reading Aristotle’s concept of human flourishing and Marx’s insight on human dignity, is a politically realistic human development framework. Nussbaum thinks that the essential human capabilities are entitlements that must be constitutionally guaranteed to ensure a decent and dignified human life for all. As a response to the reality of pluralism, Nussbaum says that the universality of these entitlements can be secured by means of an overlapping consensus. Furthermore, the extreme poverty in many nations which exposes women and children to much vulnerability has provoked the author to inquire about the applicability of Nussbaum’s framework to the global arena. As such, the thesis argues for the radical expansion of the Human Development Index used by the United Nations Development Program in measuring the quality of human life, notably the inclusion of political liberties and gender equality. In addition to this, the study puts forward the argument that global human development is best achieved through democracy, and asserts that global institutions have a moral duty to protect and promote the central human capabilities.</p>

This thesis explores aspects of teachers’ obligation to implement and discuss what are referred to in the Swedish national school curricula as “fundamental values” (“värdegrunden” in Swedish). The aim is to describe and analyze dilemmas in interpretations of and teachers’ work with these fundamental values. Four questions are related to this aim. The first addresses difficulties discussed in conversations between seven upper secondary teachers, during nine meetings over the course of one year. In these conversations the teachers reflected upon how to interpret the fundamental values in relation to their daily practice. The second question focuses on the considerable diversity of Swedish schools and examines the work of the teachers through a perspective of intersectionality. The third question concerns how Martha Nussbaum’s theory of emotions as judgments of value could be used for an understanding of the identified dilemmas. The fourth question focuses on ways in which the participating teachers’ discussions may contribute to a wider discussion about possible aims and circumstances of teachers’ work with the fundamental values. Chapter 2 introduces the theoretical framework of the study, Martha Nussbaum’s (2001) ethical thinking on emotions as judgments of value. She argues that emotions have four common cognitive components. They have (1) external objects, and are directed towards these objects. They are (2) intentional, reflecting a person’s particular point of view, his or her special way of beholding the object, and (3) consist of judgments, i.e. views of how things in the world are. According to Nussbaum’s Aristotelian ethics, emotions also (4) mirror the individual’s vision of what a good human life is like, and the vulnerability of it. The concept of eudaimonia, a fulfilled or flourishing life, is central. Chapter 3 focuses on ideas of ethnicity, and on the specific obligation mentioned in the curriculum of counteracting xenophobia and intolerance in a multicultural society. Chapter 4 discusses various aspects of the teachers’ thoughts on religiosity within Swedish society (often depicted as one of most secular in the world) and within the educational system that is non-denominational. Chapter 5 draws attention to different ways in which the teachers view and teach pupils about sexual orientation. Chapter 6 presents conclusions on potential advantages of and challenges involved in Nussbaum’s Aristotelian theory of emotions, when applied to teachers’ views of and practical work with the fundamental values described in the curriculum. One advantage is that emotions may be intellectually scrutinized and morally assessed, on grounds that are known beforehand and discussed in a democratic process. The non-productive division between emotions, on the one hand, and intellectual and moral capabilities, on the other, is transcended by Nussbaum’s theory. An important challenge is to reflect upon when to discuss the cognitive content of pupils’ emotions, and when it is appropriate to state what is right or wrong, and try to influence pupils accordingly. Keywords: Emotions, vulnerability, values education, religious education, teaching, Martha Nussbaum, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. / Nationella Forskarskolan i Pedagogiskt Arbete

In this study I examine the arguments made by Martha Nussbaum in Poetic Justice in defence of a positive role for literary engagement in the process of moral and political judgement formation. Nussbaum argues that novel reading offers a unique chance to engage our empathy in morally beneficial ways, because it stands as a kind of practice run for appropriate moral judgement through the adoption of an emotionally engaged yet critically distant “Judicious Spectator” stance when reading. I examine her account of the activity and purported benefits of reading and argue that her use of the Judicious Spectator concept is incompatible with her claims about the structure of novels and the experience of reading. I suggest examining an alternative set of fictions, namely the genre of science fiction and in particular Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Left Hand of Darkness as a means to assess whether Nussbaum’s account plausibly captures the moral value of reading fiction. I argue that even a charitable reading of Nussbaum’s Judicious Spectator concept cannot explain the central thought experiment at the heart of Le Guin’s novel, as it invites readers to contemplate a re-evaluation of their own self-identities or foundational assumptions, allowing them to abandon beliefs and understandings that have perhaps unwittingly coloured their previous moral reasoning without undergoing the scrutiny of justificatory rigour. This resulting type of re-evaluation is, I argue, primarily self-reflective in nature and not externally directed to programmatic outcomes like the possible interpretations of the novel available to Nussbaum. This good, which I label ‘appropriate doubt’, is defended as a general feature of certain kinds of novel reading, and as worthy of moral attention. I conclude that this shows Nussbaum’s account of engagement with fiction to be at best, incomplete.

This thesis explores aspects of teachers’ obligation to implement and discuss what are referred to in the Swedish national school curricula as “fundamental values” (“värdegrunden” in Swedish). The aim is to describe and analyze dilemmas in interpretations of and teachers’ work with these fundamental values. Four questions are related to this aim. The first addresses difficulties discussed in conversations between seven upper secondary teachers, during nine meetings over the course of one year. In these conversations the teachers reflected upon how to interpret the fundamental values in relation to their daily practice. The second question focuses on the considerable diversity of Swedish schools and examines the work of the teachers through a perspective of intersectionality. The third question concerns how Martha Nussbaum’s theory of emotions as judgments of value could be used for an understanding of the identified dilemmas. The fourth question focuses on ways in which the participating teachers’ discussions may contribute to a wider discussion about possible aims and circumstances of teachers’ work with the fundamental values. Chapter 2 introduces the theoretical framework of the study, Martha Nussbaum’s (2001) ethical thinking on emotions as judgments of value. She argues that emotions have four common cognitive components. They have (1) external objects, and are directed towards these objects. They are (2) intentional, reflecting a person’s particular point of view, his or her special way of beholding the object, and (3) consist of judgments, i.e. views of how things in the world are. According to Nussbaum’s Aristotelian ethics, emotions also (4) mirror the individual’s vision of what a good human life is like, and the vulnerability of it. The concept of eudaimonia, a fulfilled or flourishing life, is central. Chapter 3 focuses on ideas of ethnicity, and on the specific obligation mentioned in the curriculum of counteracting xenophobia and intolerance in a multicultural society. Chapter 4 discusses various aspects of the teachers’ thoughts on religiosity within Swedish society (often depicted as one of most secular in the world) and within the educational system that is non-denominational. Chapter 5 draws attention to different ways in which the teachers view and teach pupils about sexual orientation. Chapter 6 presents conclusions on potential advantages of and challenges involved in Nussbaum’s Aristotelian theory of emotions, when applied to teachers’ views of and practical work with the fundamental values described in the curriculum. One advantage is that emotions may be intellectually scrutinized and morally assessed, on grounds that are known beforehand and discussed in a democratic process. The non-productive division between emotions, on the one hand, and intellectual and moral capabilities, on the other, is transcended by Nussbaum’s theory. An important challenge is to reflect upon when to discuss the cognitive content of pupils’ emotions, and when it is appropriate to state what is right or wrong, and try to influence pupils accordingly. Keywords: Emotions, vulnerability, values education, religious education, teaching, Martha Nussbaum, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation.  / Nationella Forskarskolan i Pedagogiskt Arbete

Le présent travail propose une réflexion sur l'aspect social des émotions par l'entremise d'un examen de la dimension conflictuelle de 3 émotions: le désir, la honte et le dégoût. L'aspect problématique de ces émotions se situe au niveau de leur hypertrophie, en ce qu'elle encourage une emphase sur le soi, sur l'autosuffisance et la toute-puissance de l'individu, ce qui se traduit par des répercussions interpersonnelles, notamment la réduction marquée de la diversité des relations humaines qu'entretient l'individu avec les autres, et intrapersonnelles, particulièrement la narcotisation de l'identité individuelle. Cette réflexion est animée par la pensée de 3 principaux auteurs: celle de René Girard et de Martha C. Nussbaum afin d'explorer, pour chaque émotion, les implications de leur hypertrophie chez l'individu, puis de l'incidence du contexte social sur l'hypertrophie de ces émotions; celle d'Hannah Arendt afin de mieux comprendre la dynamique des relations humaines et comme palliatif à ces répercussions interpersonnelles et intrapersonnelles.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 256-273). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

The aim of this study is to examine how female refugees in Sweden experience that their escape and arrival to Sweden have formed their lives and wellbeing. The study seeks to understand how several women live their lives in relation to equality, discrimination and justice within the Swedish territorial borders. This is done with the Capability Approach by Martha C Nussbaum where she uses a list of universal values that should be central to women in every country, as a method of comparing how fair women live. I chose to interview six women who have fled to Sweden as refugees during the past 10 years, in order to see if the Capability Approach applies to them. I have also used Nancy Frasers theory of the scales of justice in my thesis. Fraser mentions three-dimensional politics where the inclusion of redistribution, recognition and representation should be achieved to create justice for women. The result showed that the women lack central capabilities such as the right to not being discriminated based on their ethnicity or religion, and the right to experience emotional development that is not bothered by traumatic experiences or unhealthy relationships. Furthermore, these women do not have the right to participate in political decisions that affect and shape their lives. The result in relation to Fraser’s theory indicates that these women have a limited freedom in Sweden. According to Fraser, there has to be an integration of a redistribution of resources, recognition, and a representation in Swedish politics, which benefit female refugees.

Submitted by Cristiane Oliveira (cristiane.oliveira@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T16:38:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 63090100005.pdf: 331649 bytes, checksum: 5122d76995faa7ff4aefdc426d5dba13 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T16:45:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 63090100005.pdf: 331649 bytes, checksum: 5122d76995faa7ff4aefdc426d5dba13 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T16:56:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 63090100005.pdf: 331649 bytes, checksum: 5122d76995faa7ff4aefdc426d5dba13 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-13T17:51:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 63090100005.pdf: 331649 bytes, checksum: 5122d76995faa7ff4aefdc426d5dba13 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-29 / O propósito deste trabalho é apresentar algumas das mais controversas questões da teoria das capacidades de Martha Nussbaum. Ela sugere que sua abordagem deve ser usada como base para princípios fundamentais e políticos voltados para as mulheres dos países em desenvolvimento. Desta forma, no primeiro capítulo, foram delineados os conceitos da teoria de Nussbaum. Depois de descrever a versão de Nussbaum sobre a abordagem das capacidades, o diálogo da autora com Amartya Sen foi apresentado, pois estes possuem visões particulares sobre a idéia de capacidades. No terceiro capítulo, o debate de Nussbaum com os relativistas culturais revelou o lado universal de sua teoria. A lista de capacidades de Nussbaum busca fornecer o suporte filosófico para a implementação de princípios constitucionais básicos que devem ser respeitados por todas as nações, como o mínimo que o respeito à dignidade humana requer. Por conta disso, este trabalho tentou também descobrir porque Nussbaum nega a importância do welfarismo subjetivo. No último capítulo desta dissertação, foram apresentados os debates de Nussbaum com Judith Butler, Susan Moller Okin e Alison Jaggar porque eles revelam diferentes pontos de vista e conclusões sobre a teoria das capacidades de Nussbaum.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att genom en intertextuell analys identifiera vilka kopplingar som finns mellan Robinson Crusoe och Mr Foe och hur man skulle kunna använda verken i en undervisningskontext utifrån Edward W. Saïds teori om orientalism och intertextuellt perspektiv. Analysen utgår från Edward W. Saïds teori om dikotomier och hur fördomar kan accepteras som sanningar, samt Martha C. Nussbaums teori om beskrivande chauvinism och romantik. I analysen framkommer det att kopplingarna i Mr Foe främst anspelade på Crusoes romantiska bild av ön där han är härskare och Fredag är hans tjänare. Genom att diskutera Fredags olika roller i verken menar jag att man kan föra en diskussion i klassrummet där eleverna får öva sig i att se maktförhållandet i västerländsk syn på utomeuropeisk kultur.

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-07T18:56:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000400345-Texto+Completo-0.pdf: 1011202 bytes, checksum: 6008dffe2a42780b7b8266dc80ec8321 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / This dissertation is dedicated to a critical analysis of the merits involved in the work done by Martha C. NUSSBAUM in her book “Frontiers of Justice”, in which a new theory of justice is proposed by means of the adoption of her theses of the Central Human Capabilities. The Author of “Frontiers of Justice” has the intention to present a theory of justice that uses some of the basic elements obtained from the contractualist doctrine of John RAWLS, but that doesn’t stay restricted to the formal structure of the pure procedimentalism suggested in the Rawlsian work. That is why NUSSBAUM proposes that Rawlsian contractualism should be complemented in those elements that are positive in it with the substantial elements that are present in the Aristotelian Ethics. With this the Author tries to elaborate some sort of “Aristotelian contractualism”, by means of which theoretical elements of three philosophical traditions (classical, modern and post-modern traditions) are mixed into one theory of justice. This being so, the present study has the specific objective of analyzing the viability of the project that intents to combine distinct philosophical traditions, each having their own basic concepts and fundamental elements that could even be interpreted as incompatible with each other. Following some of the lessons of Alasdair MACINTYRE concerning the incommensurability and untranslatability of the concepts that are elaborated by different philosophical traditions, this study will try to evaluate NUSSBAUM’s success in presenting a theory of justice that combines the Aristotelian realism with the Rawlsian constructivism. For this it will be necessary to demonstrate that there exists between those philosophical traditions sufficient elements that are common and compatible with each other, which allows the organization of a new model of thought that is superior to both of the traditions of the past and that presents a theoretical structure that is more complex and that explains with higher coherence the defects and partialities of the points of view that are being superseded. / Esta dissertação dedica-se a avaliar criticamente os méritos do empreendimento realizado por Martha C. NUSSBAUM na sua obra “Frontiers of Justice”, em que se propõe elaborar uma nova teoria da justiça escorada em sua tese das Capacidades Humanas Centrais. Pretende a Autora elaborar uma teoria da justiça que parta dos elementos básicos extraídos da doutrina contratualista desenvolvida por John RAWLS, mas que não se mantenha adstrita a estrutura formal do puro procedimentalismo sugerido na obra rawlsiana. Para tanto, sugere NUSSBAUM seja o contratualismo rawlsiano complementado naquilo que possui de positivo por meio de elementos substanciais que são extraídos da Ética aristotélica, produzindo, com isso, uma espécie de “contratualismo aristotélico”. Mescla a Autora, desse modo, dentro de uma única teoria de justiça elementos teóricos que são extraídos de três tradições filosóficas distintas e possivelmente rivais, quais sejam: a tradição clássica, a moderna e a pós-moderna. Nesses termos, o presente estudo assume como objetivo específico analisar a viabilidade do projeto que pretende conjugar tradições filosóficas distintas e que possuem conceitos básicos e elementos fundantes que poderiam ser interpretados, inclusive, como inconciliáveis entre si. Assim, seguindo os ensinamentos de Alasdair MACINTYRE acerca das dificuldades de comensuração e tradução de conceitos oriundos de tradições filosóficas distintas, pretende-se avaliar o sucesso de NUSSBAUM ao apresentar uma teoria da justiça que combina o realismo aristotélico com o construtivismo rawlsiano, sendo que, para tanto, será necessário demonstrar que entre uma e outra tradição existem elementos suficientemente comuns e compartilháveis que permitem a estruturação de um novo modelo de pensamento que seja superior às duas tradições anteriores, fornecendo uma estrutura teórica mais complexa e que explique com maior coerência os defeitos e a eventual parcialidade dos pontos de vista sendo superados.