Disability and Justice: The Capabilities Approach in Practice

(Paperback)

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Disability & Justice: The Capabilities Approach in Practice examines the capabilities approach and how, as a matter of justice, the experience of disability is accounted for. It suggests that the capabilities approach is first, unable to properly diagnose both those who are in need as well as the extent to which assistance is required. Furthermore, it is suggested that counterfactually, if this approach to justice were capable of assessing need, that it would fail to be as stigma-sensitive as other approaches of justice. That is to say, the capabilities approach would have the possibility of further stigmatizing those requiring accommodation. Finally, Disability & Justice argues that health and the absence of disability belong in a category of functionings that are of special moral importancea fact the Capabilities Approach fails to recognize.

Reviews

Disability and Justice: The Capabilities Approach in Practice is a lucid, concise and compelling philosophical discussion of disability, and its significance in political theory. Christopher Riddle has produced useful and plausible arguments with an aim to promote justice for people with disabilities. -- Simo P. Vehmas, Stockholm University
Disability and Justice: The Capabilities Approach in Practice provides a compelling case that the capabilities approach is at once the best we have and not yet satisfactory as a theory that addresses the experiences of people with disabilities within its core conception of justice. Drawing on a nuanced understanding of the cutting edge of capability theory and models of disability, Christopher Riddle not only enriches the dialogue between these areas, but also makes distinctive theoretical advances in each. The book will be of particular interest to readers working on the measurement of capabilities, the risk of stigmatization in the implementation of egalitarian policies, and issues of justice and disability more generally. -- Christopher R. Lowry, University of Waterloo

Author Bio

Christopher A. Riddle is assistant professor and chair in the Department of Philosophy at Utica College, where he is also director of the Applied Ethics Institute.