Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach and Non-Human Animals: Theory and Public Policy (original) (raw)

The capabilities approach, a new theory put forth by Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Sen, has become increasingly popular, attracting the attention of both philosophers and policy makers. In a chapter of her recently published book, Frontiers of Justice: Disability, Nationality, Species Membership (2006), Nussbaum uses the capabilities approach to address our treatment of non-human animals. In this paper, I assess Nussbaum’s application of her theory to non-human animals for both its philosophical merits and its potential to affect public policy. I will argue that there are currently three main philosophical problems with the theory that need further attention. After discussing these problems, I will show how focusing on factory farming would enable Nussbaum to demonstrate the philosophical merits of the capabilities approach as well as to suggest more powerful and effective changes in our public policies.