The capabilities approach to welfare (with Martha Nussbaum)

Apr 27, 2023 1h 15m 21 insights Episode Page ↗
Spencer Greenberg speaks with Martha Nussbaum about her capabilities approach to evaluating societal justice for humans and extending it to non-human animals. They discuss how to define and measure well-being beyond wealth, the ethical obligations towards animals (especially in factory farms), and the role of political institutions in achieving justice.
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Systemic Change for Justice

Focus on building and supporting decent, stable, and democratic political institutions as the most effective long-term solution for problems of inequality and injustice, rather than relying solely on short-term philanthropic aid, which can undermine political will.

2. Advocate for Animal Justice

Actively work to counter the political and financial influence of the factory food industry, advocating for legislative changes like repealing ‘ag-gag laws,’ while also making personal food choices that align with animal welfare.

3. Define Justice by Capabilities

Evaluate societal justice and well-being by what people are actually able to do and be (capabilities), rather than solely by income, wealth, or average satisfaction, as these metrics can mask severe inequalities.

4. Base Animal Protection on Intrinsic Value

Advocate for animal protection based on the intrinsic value and unique characteristics of each species, rejecting anthropocentric ’ladder of nature’ hierarchies and cultivating curiosity about their diverse abilities.

5. Listen to Animal Behavior

Interpret animal behaviors and vocalizations to understand their preferences and needs, allowing them to be ‘active agents’ in shaping their world, even if through human surrogates.

6. Address Injustice: Recognize, Then Fix

When confronted with injustice (where capabilities fall below a minimal threshold), first acknowledge the injustice, then actively devise and implement solutions to rectify it.

7. Support Cell-Based Meat Technology

Support the development and adoption of cell-based meat technologies as a potential ‘game changer’ for animal welfare, offering real meat without animal harm and potentially shifting societal ethics.

8. Clean Up Human-Made Environmental Damage

Prioritize cleaning up human-made environmental damage (e.g., habitat destruction, plastic pollution, noise pollution) as a fundamental step to improve wild animal well-being, recognizing that all natural spaces are human-influenced.

9. Avoid Anthropomorphizing Animal Needs

Understand and respect the specific environmental and social requirements for each animal species to flourish, avoiding the assumption that what makes humans happy (e.g., small spaces) applies to animals.

10. Cultivate Critical Philosophical Dialogue

Foster an intellectual environment that encourages criticism and challenge, even of highly respected figures, as this promotes intellectual health, learning, and the development of robust ideas.

11. Communicate Complex Ideas Publicly

If you possess the ability to communicate complex ideas to a general audience, recognize it as a moral obligation to do so, as public understanding of these ideas is crucial for societal progress.

12. Evaluate Inequality by Capability

When addressing inequality, evaluate each capability (e.g., freedom of speech, housing) individually, using ’equal respect between persons’ as the guiding principle to determine if inequality in that specific area is detrimental.

13. Define Happiness as Flourishing Life

Define happiness as a ‘flourishing life’ with multiple components, emphasizing the importance of individual choice in pursuing genuine goods and ethical behavior, rather than mere moment-to-moment pleasure or subjective satisfaction.

14. Consult Experts for Species Needs

To understand the capabilities and needs of a particular species, consult experts who have extensively observed their natural behaviors and what hinders their flourishing.

15. Be Cautious with External Aid

Exercise caution with external philanthropic aid, as it can sometimes be counterproductive by undermining the development of essential local political institutions and self-sufficiency.

16. Study History for Perspective

Study the history of your field to gain a broader perspective and ensure your contributions are robust and transcend fleeting trends or ’latest fads and fancies.’

17. Acknowledge and Protect Vulnerability

Acknowledge and understand human vulnerability, including the role of emotions, and develop political strategies to protect ‘good’ forms of vulnerability (e.g., friendship, love) while actively preventing ‘bad’ forms (e.g., hunger).

18. Re-evaluate Capability Thresholds Regularly

Regularly re-evaluate what constitutes an adequate minimal level for each capability (e.g., education), as societal needs, economic realities, and global contexts change over time.

19. Implement Bird-Friendly Building Designs

Implement practical solutions like bird stickers on glass buildings to prevent bird collisions and make human environments more hospitable to wildlife.

20. Avoid ‘Sado Tourism’ Exploiting Animals

Avoid participating in ‘Sado tourism’ (e.g., safaris focused on watching predatory animals kill) that exploits animal suffering for entertainment and may involve artificial propping up of predatory events.

21. Provide Substitute Activities for Predators

For captive predatory animals, provide substitute activities and humanely sourced meat to satisfy their predatory instincts without requiring them to kill other animals, thereby reducing frustration.