HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE APPROACH TO THE CAPABILITIES OF AMARTYA SEN AND MARTHA NUSSBAUM

Abstract

As we know, the five key concepts of Sustainable Development of the UN 2030
Agenda are: People, Prosperity, Peace 4) Partnership 5) Planet, articulated in 17 Sustainable
Development Goals. This implies adopting an integrated approach and concrete measures
to address a major paradigm shift and consider interconnected global policy processes and
a common concept of human development, to understand and respond to global challenges
for the definition of an enhanced scoreboard for public policies and investments inspired by
sustainability. This means, therefore, redefining the concept of human development according
to criteria and parameters that enhance not only the economic aspect but above all the ethicalpolitical
aspect. My contribution intends to examine this objective in the light of the approach
to the capacities of Sen and Nussbaum, according to which human development, social justice
and care for the environment are closely linked, and need a system of precise indicators
capable of determining which basic principles and which measures can allow a life worthy of
respect, well-being and social justice.
Following this perspective, the reference to the condition of women and gender policies
also becomes central, lagging behind for a real possibility of achieving the objectives set by
the UN 2030 agenda.