From Distributive Justice to Capability Justice: An Analysis of Amartya Sen’s Theory and Its Implications for Poverty Reduction Policies

Abstract

This study examines Amartya Sen’s "capability approach" and its relationship to achieving social justice. This approach represents a contemporary intellectual framework that has reformulated the concept of justice, moving beyond a mere focus on resource distribution or utility maximization. The study aims to analyze the conceptual and theoretical framework of the capability approach, elucidate its philosophical foundations, and explore its connections to poverty, human rights, and sustainable development.

Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the study reviews key theoretical concepts—foremost among them the concept of "capabilities"—and distinguishes between resources, utility, and genuine opportunities. It also analyzes Sen’s critique of utilitarianism and John Rawls’s theory, while outlining his vision of justice as the expansion of individuals' substantive freedoms. The study concludes that, from Sen’s perspective, poverty is not limited to low income but manifests as deprivation regarding fundamental capabilities such as education, health, employment, and social participation. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the close link between the capability approach, human rights, and sustainable development, as it places the human being at the center and as the ultimate goal of public policy.

Ultimately, the study finds that the capability approach offers a more comprehensive and realistic framework for achieving social justice. It provides tools to evaluate economic and social policies based on their capacity to empower individuals and expand their genuine life opportunities. This research relies on a descriptive-analytical approach, presenting the core concepts of the capability approach, analyzing its intellectual and philosophical dimensions, and highlighting its role in realizing social justice.