The Capabilities Approach

Basic Capability Equality

Sen first develops the idea of basic capablities by examining the limitations of three particular types of inequality: utilitarian equality, total utility equality, and Rawlsian equality. He argues that each of these three definitions of equality fails in different and contrasting ways, and an adequate definition of equality cannot even be constructed by combining the views of all three.

Sen argues that is missing from each of these three definitions of equality is a notion of "basic capabilities": a person being able to do certain basic things.