The Emotions in Political Theory: Martha C. Nussbaum on Emotions and Justice
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Chien, Yi-Chun
Abstract
The central purpose of this thesis is to address the relationship between human emotions and social justice. Martha C. Nussbaum, one of the most influential contemporary American philosophers, has written separately about emotions and justice. However, she has not dealt explicitly with the relationship between her theory of emotions and her theory of justice which is based on the capabilities approach. This thesis aims at illustrate and assess a nuanced connection between Nussbaum’s two theories. I shall argue that to Nussbaum emotions play three crucial roles within her capabilities approach. First, a picture of the fully human self should be embodied and affective, that is, capable of emotions in ways centrally related to the human capacities for reason and autonomy. Secondly, rational emotions, such as compassion and justified anger, can motive people to achieve moral actions and strengthen people’s will in the pursuit of justice. Thirdly, a just society ought to cultivate people’s ability to make reasonable emotion judgments and ensure the emotional health of its citizens. This thesis concludes with three criticisms of Nussbaum’s theory: her neglect of feelings in her cognitive theory of emotions; the insensitivity to cultural differences of her list of central human capabilities; and her inability to overcome the nature of particularity of human emotions.
Subjects
Emotions
Martha Nussbaum
Capabilities approach
Compassion
Justice.
SDGs
Type
thesis
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