Functioning, Capability and Freedom: A Framework for Understanding Workplace Disabilities

Title: Functioning, Capability and Freedom: A Framework for Understanding Workplace Disabilities
Format: Journal Article
Publication Date: March 2012
Published In: Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal
Description:

Work-related disability issues have been central in many of the U. S. public policy debates since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although there is a robust business, legal, and public policy literature dealing with such issues philosophical analyses are not common. Accordingly, the paper examines, from a broadly philosophical perspective, some of the issues associated with restricted workplace employment opportunities due to the presence of one or more real or perceived disabilities. Following a review of the concept of disability, the paper examines disabilities and impairments using the concepts of functionings and capabilities developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. The paper then connects the capabilities approach to disabilities with the concepts of negative and positive freedom developed by Isaiah Berlin. The paper concludes by suggesting how to address employment and workplace discriminations of disabled people. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Ivan Allen College Contributors:
External Contributors: Ward, A.C.
Citation:

Ward, A.C., Moon, N.W., & Baker, P.M.A. (2012). Functioning, capability and freedom: a framework for understanding workplace disabilities. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 24(1), pp. 37-53, doi: 10.1007/s10672-011-9174-2.

Related Departments:
  • Center for Advanced Communications Policy