The Quality of Life and relevant Approaches based on Capabilities and Functionalities
Abstract
Recent research regarding the quality of life developed different approaches concerning the use of objective and subjective indicators, as well as the relevance of hypotheses, propositions and methods of analysis or of evaluation. Starting from the conceptual difficulties regarding the term of ‘quality of life’, this article focuses upon the contributions of Amartya Sen on the relationships between resources, liberties, capabilities, functionalities and human development. A separate section attempts to capture the shift of accent from the approaches of a quantitative type towards those of a qualitative type, founded on capabilities, functionalities, and the factors of conversion of resources into elements of quality of subjective life. The following sections are consecrated to the contributions to the development of the model proposed by Amartya Sen and to the reception of this model by a few specialists in the field, as well as to its relevance within scientific research and the foundation of public policies.References
Clark, D. (2006). The Capability Approach: Its Development, Critique and Recent Advances, Global Poverty Research Group. http://www.gprg.org, accessed on 10.07.2014.
Cohen, G.A. (2008). Rescuing Justice and Equality, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press.
Huzum, E. (2011). The Critique of Idea (list) Theories of Social Justice. The Amartya Sen Case. In: Symposium, IX, no.11, p.415-428.
Huzum, E. (2013). Egalitarianism. In: Huzum E. (coord.), Political Theories and Ideologies, Iasi, European Institute Publishing House, p.49-88.
Kamm, I. M. (2011). Sen on Justice and Rights: A Review Essay. In: Philosophy and Public Affairs, vol.39, no.1, p.82-104.
Mărginean, I. (2011). The Content of the Paradigm of the Quality of Life. In I. Mărginean and I. Precupeţu (coord.), The Paradigm of the Quality of Life, Bucharest, The Romanian Academy Publishing House, p.15-38.
Nussbaum, M., Sen, A. (eds.). (1993). The Quality of Life (Wider Studies in Development Economics), New York, Oxford University Press.
Nussbaum, M. (2003). Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements: Sen and Social Justice. In: Feminist Economics, vol.9, no. 2-3, p.33-59.
Nussbaum, M. (2006). Frontiers of Justice: Disability, Nationality, Species Membership, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press.
Nussbaum, M. (2011). Creating Capabilities: The Human Development Approach, Harvard, Harvard University Press.
Pogge, T. (2002). Can the Capability Approach be Justified? In: Philosophical Topics, vol.30, no.2, p.167-228.
Precupețu, I. (2011). Recent Approaches of the Quality of Life. In: I. Mărginean and I. Precupețu (coord.), The Paradigm of the Quality of Life, Bucharest, The Romanian Academy Publishing House, p.39-64.
Pukeliene, V., Starkauskiene, V. (2011). Quality of Life: Factors Determining its Measurement Complexity. In: Engineering Economics, 22(2), p.147-156.
Robeyns, I. (2011), The Capability Approach. In: Stanford Encyclope-dia of Philosophy, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/capability-approach/.
Robeyns, I. (2013). Capability Ethics. In: F. D’Agostino and G. Gaus (eds.), The Blackwell Guide to Ethical Theory, New York, Blackwell, p.412-432.
Sen, A. (1995). Inequality Reexamined, Harvard, Harvard University Press.
Sen, A. (2004). Development as Freedom, Bucharest, Economical Publishing House.
Sen, A. (2005). Human Rights and Capabilities. In: Journal of Human Development, vol.6, no.2, p.151-166.
Sen, A. (2006). What do we want from a Theory of Justice. In: Journal of Philosophy, vol.103, p. 215-238.
Sen, A. (2009). The Idea of Justice, Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press.
Șerban-Oprescu, G. (2011). An Epistemiological Approach of the Concept of Quality of Life. In: Theoretical and Applied Economics, vol.XVIII, no.2, p.175-185.
Stiglitz, J., Sen, A., Fitoussi, J.P. (2009). Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, www.stiglitz-sen-fitoussi.fr /documents/ raport_anglais (accessed on 20.08.2014).
Șimandan, M. (2006). Social Identities and Distinctions, Timişoara, Mirton Publishing House.
Tobler, S. (2009). Funf Dimension der Menschenwurde unde ihre Operationalisierung. In: Ecumenical Magazine, no.1, p.169-187.
Veenhoven, R. (2010). Capability and Happiness. Conceptual Difference and Reality Links. In: Journal of Socio-Economics, no.39, p.344-360.
