Capabilities and Two Ethical Theories

Abstract

The present paper examines two currently popular approaches to ethical theory — namely, ‘Expressivism’ (also known as ‘emotivism’ and ‘non‐cognitivism’) and contemporary forms of ‘Kantianism’ — and argues that neither provides a suitable foundation for the capabilities approach. Two philosophers are discussed in some detail — Simon Blackburn, as a leading representative of Expressivism, and Thomas Scanlon, as a leading representative of ‘Kantianism’ — but the views of Habermas also come under some scrutiny. The paper ends by advocating a view close to that of John Dewey.

Keywords:

• Simon Blackburn
• John Dewey
• Jürgen Habermas
• Thomas Scanlon
• Democracy
• Entanglement
• Expressivism
• Fallibilism
• Kantianism
• Positivism