The Central Human Functional Capabilities

Nassbaum defines the central human capabilities as:

• Life
• Bodily health and integrity
• Bodily health
• Senses , imagination, thought
• Emotions
• Practical reason
• Affiliation
• Other Species
• Play
• Control over one's environment, political and material

Nassbaum argues that "the capability, not actual functioning, should be the goal of public policy" (Nassbaum 214), she presents this list of capabilities rather than introducing them as actual functions. What does this mean? I've come to somewhat assume that she is stating what she believes every human being is entitled to in terms of basic human necessities in order to pursue a successful life. While overall I think I understood where she was coming from I somewhat got caught up in the wording of it all. It wasn't a difficult read, but it wasn't an easy one either. The terms "functioning" and "capability" were greatly used, dare I say overused. So perhaps it was my lack of generally understanding her main points or perhaps I really didn't get this one. Overall I had a difficult time with this reading and while her ideas that were presented were not difficult to understand in terms of reading, they were difficult to perceive and grasp in terms of the way in which they were written. One thing that really stood out to me about this reading was Nassbaum's use and reference to ideologies discussed and presented through the works of earlier authors we've read throughout the section on justice, one such as Rawls. She presents her similar beliefs by first laying the foundation using the previously mentioned author.


Nussbaum, Martha C. "The Central Human Functional Capabilities." A World of Ideas: Essential Reading for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2006. pp. 213-221.