https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.2005.384

Considerazioni etiche sul tema della qualità della vita: l'Approccio delle Capacità di Martha Nussbaum

Vol. 54 No. 4 (2005)
Published: August 30, 2005
Qualità, autonomia, capacità, desiderio, dignità, etica della cura / Quality, autonomy, capabilities, desire, dignity, ethics of care
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Authors

Giuseppina D'Addelfio
g.daddelfio@libero.it
Dipartimento di Filosofia, Storia e Critica dei Saperi, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Nel presente articolo viene affrontato il tema della qualità della vita. Dopo una breve ricostruzione dell'origine di questa espressione e un esame dei contesti in cui più frequentemente essa ricorre, viene presentato l'Approccio che Amartya Sen e Martha Nussbaum hanno elaborato e su cui continuano a lavorare per misurare la qualità della vita in differenti nazioni: l'approccio delle Capacità. In particolare viene presentata l'elaborazione di Martha Nussbaum con la sua lista delle capacità. Sulla base della sua radice aristotelica, questa lista lascia intravedere un'immagine dell'essere umano come un animale razionale fragile e dipendente, in più momenti della sua vita bisognoso di cure. Dunque per quanto l'autonomia sia considerata una meta significativa da raggiungere e proteggere, essa non diventa l'unico fondamento della dignità dell'uomo. Quest'idea, insieme al tema della deformazione dei desideri e delle aspettative in situazioni di difficoltà, offre interessanti spunti alla riflessione bioetica, configurando l'esigenza di qualità della vita come strettamente legata al riconoscimento del suo intrinseco valore e della sua sacralità.
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In this article the author deals with the "Quality of Life" issue. After a brief history of the origin of this expression and an exam of the main contexts in which it is used, the approach that Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum have been shaping, in order to mesure the Quality of Life in different nations - the Capabilities Approach -, is presented. In particular the author focuses on Nussbaum's account and on her list of capabilities. On the basis of its Aristotelian root, the list shows an idea of human being as a vulnerable and dependent rational animal - so that he/she needs care, in different moments of his/her life. Hence, autonomy is recognized as a valuable thing to pursue and preserve, but it is not considered as the only ground of human dignity. This issue, with the one of the deformation of preferences and expectations due to difficult situations, gives precious suggestions to bioethics. Namely, the istance of the "Quality of Life" is stressed as closely linked with the recognition of its intrinsic value and sacredness.

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How to Cite

D’Addelfio, G. (2005). Considerazioni etiche sul tema della qualità della vita: l’Approccio delle Capacità di Martha Nussbaum. Medicina E Morale, 54(4). https://doi.org/10.4081/mem.2005.384

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