Amartya Sen’s ‘Capability Approach’ and Democracy in The Philippines

Authors

  • Christopher Ryan Maboloc Christopher Ryan Maboloc is the Chairperson of the Philosophy Division of Ateneo de Davao University, Philippines. He can be reached at: ryanmaboloc75@yahoo.com

Abstract

This essay applies Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach to the way democracy is practiced in the Philippines by Filipinos. The author has reached the conclusion that negative freedom does not secure for people their well-being. Thus, even after the removal of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines still remains poor. In this essay, the author argues that Filipinos should empower themselves morally in terms of their positive freedoms or capability, and the Church can be at the frontlines of this initiative, in order to achieve national development.

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