Advise the UN: your own list of capabilities

Session 3: Human Development and the Capabilities Approach

Author

Affiliation

Your Task

Imagine you are advising the United Nations on how to define and measure human development globally.

Your challenge: Create a list of 5-7 capabilities or freedoms that you believe are essential for a dignified human life.

Part 1: Individual Reflection (5 minutes)

Instructions

What should every person be able to do or be? For each capability you list, also decide: should this be guaranteed everywhere as a universal right, or should different societies decide it for themselves?

Your Capabilities List

List 5-7 capabilities you consider essential:

☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific
☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific

Part 2: Small Group Discussion (5 minutes)

Instructions

Form groups of 3-4 students and share your individual lists.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the following in your group:

Where do you agree? Which capabilities appear on most or all lists?
Where do you disagree? Which capabilities are controversial in your group?
The big question: Should there be a universal, mandatory list that applies to all countries? Or should each society/country decide for itself which capabilities matter most?

Group Notes (optional)

Capabilities that appeared on multiple lists:

Capabilities that were controversial or unique:

Our group’s position on universalism:

☐ There should be a universal list for all countries

☐ Each country/society should decide for itself

☐ We couldn’t agree / We’re split

Part 3: Plenary Discussion (5 minutes)

Be prepared to share with the class:

One or two capabilities from your group’s lists
The main disagreement or debate in your group
Your group’s position on the universal list question

Reminder: functionings and capabilities

Capabilities are the real freedoms or opportunities people have to achieve the lives they value.

Key distinction:

Functioning = what a person actually does or is (e.g., being well-fed)
Capability = what a person is able to do or be (e.g., having access to adequate food)

Example: Two people may both skip a meal (same functioning), but:

Person A chooses to fast for religious reasons (has the capability to eat)
Person B cannot afford food (lacks the capability to eat)

Note: There are no right or wrong answers here. The point is that you commit to a position of your own, so that you enter the debate between Sen and Nussbaum about which capabilities — if any — are central already holding one.

--- title: "Advise the UN: your own list of capabilities" subtitle: "Session 3: Human Development and the Capabilities Approach" format: html: default pdf: default header-includes: - | \usepackage{fontspec} \setmainfont{Liberation Sans} --- # Your Task Imagine you are advising the **United Nations** on how to define and measure human development globally. Your challenge: **Create a list of 5-7 capabilities or freedoms that you believe are essential for a dignified human life.** --- # Part 1: Individual Reflection (5 minutes) ## Instructions What should every person be able to do or be? For each capability you list, also decide: should this be guaranteed everywhere as a universal right, or should different societies decide it for themselves? ### Your Capabilities List List **5-7 capabilities** you consider essential: 1. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 2. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 3. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 4. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 5. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 6. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific 7. \ \ ☐ Should be a universal right ☐ Might be culturally specific --- # Part 2: Small Group Discussion (5 minutes) ## Instructions Form groups of **3-4 students** and share your individual lists. ## Discussion Questions Discuss the following in your group: 1. **Where do you agree?** Which capabilities appear on most or all lists? 2. **Where do you disagree?** Which capabilities are controversial in your group? 3. **The big question:** Should there be a **universal, mandatory list** that applies to all countries? Or should each society/country decide for itself which capabilities matter most? ## Group Notes (optional) **Capabilities that appeared on multiple lists:** - \ \ - \ \ - \ \ **Capabilities that were controversial or unique:** - \ \ - \ \ - \ \ **Our group's position on universalism:** ☐ There should be a universal list for all countries ☐ Each country/society should decide for itself ☐ We couldn't agree / We're split --- # Part 3: Plenary Discussion (5 minutes) Be prepared to share with the class: - One or two capabilities from your group's lists - The main disagreement or debate in your group - Your group's position on the universal list question --- # Reminder: functionings and capabilities **Capabilities** are the real freedoms or opportunities people have to achieve the lives they value. **Key distinction:** - **Functioning** = what a person actually does or is (e.g., being well-fed) - **Capability** = what a person is able to do or be (e.g., having access to adequate food) **Example:** Two people may both skip a meal (same functioning), but: - Person A chooses to fast for religious reasons (has the capability to eat) - Person B cannot afford food (lacks the capability to eat) --- **Note:** There are no right or wrong answers here. The point is that you commit to a position of your own, so that you enter the debate between Sen and Nussbaum about which capabilities — if any — are central already holding one.