Capabilities for Control

Abstract

AbstractWhat does it mean for an individual to have a capability, and why is this valuable? Capabilities are standardly understood as opportunities to perform (or not) particular ‘valuable’ functionings. This can exclude individuals with impairments, who often cannot perform or do not value functionings assumed to be essential to any human life. Capabilities should, therefore, be understood instead as the ability to control central domains of our life. Thus, rather than attempting to identify valuable functionings and ensure everyone has identical access to them, we should focus on ensuring individuals have an acceptable range of options and the ability to choose between them. Rather than endorsing a hierarchy of functioning, inevitably grounded in the functioning capacities of the able-bodied, we should accept that different modes of functioning can be interchangeable and equally valuable. This theory of justice can accommodate individuals with a variety of needs, preferences, and abilities.