Development theories and development as social capability expansion

Abstract

A reasonable social objective of some impartial observer could be providing people the possibility to achieve a better life. Achieving a better life depends, in its turn, on the personal living conditions. Hence, offering the best distribution of conditions from a set of possible distributions could be considered the mainstay of Development Theory. Experts on development rank the possible social states that a society could reach following di erent principles. These principles depend on different criteria of what a good life is, as well as on different principles of Justice. We will see three scenarios where the rankings of social states have been generally set. Linked to the third scenario, we offer a ranking, which considers that a good life is a 'full human life'. We interpret living a full human life as the capability for self-sufficiency, self-respect and agency. These three capabilities may be in conflict, so that, we treat them lexicograhically. Last but not least, this ranking supports the principle of equal opportunity for accessing a better life as a principle of justice.