The Ethical Annotation On Amartya Sen's View Of Development

Amartya Sen's view of development as freedom, which reflects his rethinking and breakthrough on the traditional views of development. He made a new interpretation on freedom and development. And then he made a novel framework of development centered on "substantial freedom", which has made a great effect on the theory and practice of development. By criticizing the traditional presumption of "economic man", Sen argues that development is the expansion of human freedom based on "real man". Sen uses the conception of "capability" to expound and prove "substantial freedom". And then "the equality of capability" is the principle for the social development. Sen's view of development not only clarifies the human-oriented value, but also points out the standard to evaluate the rationality of social development.Sen's view of development as freedom has important theoretical value. First, it shows that the sound development of economics depends on the combination of economics and ethics. Secondly, human beings must transform from the economic man to free man. Thirdly, social development should pay more attention to the ethical concern. However, there is some theoretical shortcomings in Sen's theory. On one hand, Sen's approach is an example of methodological individualism; on the other hand, the perception of "capability" is too vague, and Sen use the utility of Utilitarianism to explain the idea of "capability". In a word, Sen's theory of development has its enlightenment and significance for our country, which tries to build a concordant society directed by scientific view of development.